Dexter VB tapping depth as season wears on

The Dexter High School volleyball squad is entering the ninth week of its regular season. This follows a summer of hard training just in preparation for this season, and first-year Bearcat coach Hayley Orf is beginning to reach into her team’s depth to get her squad through the tiring portion of its season.

“We’re having to really make some adjustments,” Orf said following a recent match against MSHSAA-power Advance. “We are bringing in a few younger girls and seeing what works best.”

The Bearcats (11-10) were on fire a week ago after winning 9 of 10 matches through one stretch. However, recent losses against the Hornets (3-1), Cape Central (2-0), and Poplar Bluff (2-1), the latter two matches in the SEMO Conference Tournament, have resulted in a 1-3 stretch for Orf’s team.

“The older girls are getting more and more bought in,” Orf said of her roster management, “and accepting and knowing this is a team effort.”

The Bearcats have a busy month staring them in the face, beginning today, as they travel to Puxico (7-12-1) at 7:30 p.m., followed by a road game at Doniphan (10-6-2) on Tuesday (7:15 p.m.), and a home game on Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Mules (6-9-2) for the second time in a week.

In the recent match against Advance, Orf utilized 11 players, of which only four were seniors (Katelynn Owens, Shelby Driskill, Macie Templemire, and libero Brooke Lasater).

Getting on the court, despite their youth, were sophomores Klaire Essner and Karis Kennedy, as well as freshman Mauriona Menley.

“This takes unity,” Orf said, “and it takes keeping everybody up. That takes everybody to keep each other lifted up.

“Our confidence and mental toughness is getting better.”

Dexter fell in four sets to Advance, which was the first time in six matches that the Hornets had not swept an opponent.

“I’d love to see (Advance) again,” Orf said, “because our best volleyball will be played in October.”

Orf will probably get her wish in next week’s Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament at Richland (Essex) High School.

“I feel like we are continuing to make progress,” Orf said.