Bearcats have new headcoach and return several players for 2023 season

The Dexter Bearcats volleyball team reeled off 20 wins last season, a number they’ve hovered around for the past few campaigns but new coach Haylee Orf is no stranger to the program as she spent the last four years as an assistant for the Bearcats.

“I am very excited for an awesome first year as volleyball head coach and cannot wait for game play,” she said.

Orf and the Bearcats started hitting the court back in May and played solid competition throughout the summer to prepare for this season.

“I know this group is very special and have high hopes for a great end of season,” she said. “My assistant, Coach Horton, and I are very like-minded when it comes to attitude, work ethic and mental toughness. The girls are hard workers, very respectful and mesh well together in communication and play."

Orf said this isn’t the tallest team she’s had during her time on staff at Dexter but the Bearcats have enough to compete at the net this season.

“They're getting quicker, more agile, more confident and they are eager to work on all the weaknesses,” she said. “I am hopeful that we can continue the hard work and only build on the areas that may hold us back against those great teams.”

Orf said Addison Horton is joining her on staff this season as Horton previously spent a year as an assistant at Kennett.

Orf is excited to give back to a school that her and Horton attended from kindergarten through high school graduation.

The Bearcats return several players this season including All-Conference junior Kate Nichols. Macie Templmire, Brooke Lasater, Shelby Driskill, Brooklyn Link and Katelynn Owens help make up the senior leadership for Orf’s squad.

With so much returning this season, Orf said chemistry is a big key for their squad this year and it’ll be a benefit for them going forward.

The Bearcats play three games in four nights to start the season with two of those match ups coming on the road.

Dexter plays Monday at Saxony Lutheran then on Tuesday at Arcadia Valley before hosting Jackson in the home opener on Aug. 31.