Notre Dame volleyball aims to reload in 2023

The conclusion of the 2022 season left some question marks for coach Meredith Brinkmeyer and the Notre Dame Bulldogs volleyball team.

The biggest question mark came with the personnel. The Bulldogs graduated five seniors in Kristin Anderson, Anna Garner, Tori Rubel, Grace Young and Emma-Claire Self.

As the Bulldogs look to replace those five seniors, the experience the returning players got from last years 23-8-4 season that ended in the sectional round to Ste. Genevieve is something that will be crucial.

“The returning players have it in their mind that they want to build off of last year,” Brinkmeyer said. “They really just want to focus on the team chemistry. We lost some key seniors so they’re looking at how they can step into those leadership roles.”

Not only is getting the team to gel at the forefront for Brinkmeyer, they are also looking at how different players can play on the court.

“We are working on both at the same time,” Brinkmeyer said. “I think team chemistry is what we need to focus on first because they’ve been used to playing with those seniors that we lost. A lot of it is figuring out where the girls are going to fit in.”

The focus is on two different areas of the game, but according to Brinkmeyer they eventually go hand-in-hand.

“I think a lot of times when we get the chemistry figured out, the rest of the stuff comes with it,” Brinkmeyer said. “It just makes it a smoother transition.”

Some key returners this season for the Bulldogs include Kate Rubel, Courtney Tatum, Aubrey Neumeyer, Claudia Jones and Brie Rubel.

Brinkmeyer said she expects Brie Rubel to have a much bigger role in 2023.

“She got in about 16 sets last year,” Brinkmeyer said. “I’m looking for her to do some really good stuff for us this year.”

Brinkmeyer also credited the incoming juniors for the work they’ve put in during the off-season and summer.

“They did some really good stuff for us over the summer,” Brinkmeyer said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how some of these younger girls gel with the girls that have experience already.”

With experience lacking, the players the Bulldogs have making the jump to varsity is a jump that will prove to be vital for the team to find success.

“It really is important,” Brinkmeyer said. “Especially with us only having one senior this year. A lot of our younger girls are going to have to step up and fill that leadership role. It can be big for some of them but I have no doubt they’re going to fit into those roles perfectly.”

When it comes to their attack, Brinkmeyer thinks that will be a strength for the Bulldogs in 2023.

“I think we can be a force to be reckoned with hitting wise,” Brinkmeyer said. “Especially if we can get our passes to our setter. We have a really good setter in Claudia Jones and she distributes the ball well.”

After the last two seasons for the Bulldogs have ended at sectionals, the expectations inside the locker room are clear.

“They are wanting to get over the hump of the sectional match,” Brinkmeyer said. “I just tell them to focus on each game and have fun. If we put it all out there I think good things are going to come from it. We just want to try and not look too far ahead and just take it one game at a time.”

The Bulldogs’ season will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, when they travel to take on Farmington.

The first home match will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, when the Bulldogs host Sikeston at Notre Dame Regional High School.

Some other key dates include the Dig for Life Tournament on Sept. 8 and 9, the SEMO Conference Tournament on Sept. 27 and the Lutheran South Tournament on Oct. 7.

The regular season finale for the Bulldogs will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, when they travel to take on Dexter at Dexter High School.