Scott City volleyball retools with Simpsons

When Scott City junior middle hitter Brooke Simpson was sidelined with ankle injuries three times during her first two high school volleyball seasons, the Rams struggled to win in her absence.

Simpson led the Rams to their first quarterfinal appearance in 2006 when she was a freshman. But during that playoff match against Crystal City she landed the wrong way on her foot, stretching the tendons in her ankle.

"We were up 7-4 or something like that, and then she went down, and we lost [25-21]," Scott City coach Haley Jennings said. "We just had the momentum [with Simpson], and volleyball is such a momentum sport."

Simpson, a member of the all-Southeast Missourian first team as a freshman, again stretched the tendons in her ankle during her sophomore season, causing her to miss some games. Still, she posted 176 kills, 95 blocks and 198 digs.

This year, for Simpson, it is all about staying healthy for the entire season. Her role is multiple: She will be stepping forward as a team leader, keeping her teammates loose with her songs and dances, and helping the young players, including her sister, freshman Mikah Simpson, develop at the varsity level.

Simpson believes that despite her team graduating seven seniors off last year's team, which lost to St. Vincent in sectionals, the Rams have some strong newcomers and the potential to earn their first trip to the Class 2 state final four.

The Rams have come close in recent years, making it at least to the sectional round five times since 2002. Three of those occasions the Rams lost to Crystal City.

CHUCK WU ~ photos@semissourian.com Scott City junior Brooke Simpson, left, will be joined on the varsity squad by her freshman sister Mikah. The Rams have high hopes in Class 2 despite graduating seven players from last year's district championship team.

Jennings said she will be watching Crystal City and St. Vincent at the B.A Sports Classic this weekend to get a glimpse at the playoff competition.

The Rams start their 2008 quest tonight against Advance.

"I think we have great potential," Simpson said.

An important Ram

Jennings said Simpson was clearly distraught when she was brought back to the locker room to have her ankle treated during the quarterfinal match in 2006.

It was the second time that season she had stretched the tendons.

"We took her back with the trainer, and she was trying to jump on it and she was in tears," Jennings said. "Her heart is in it 100 percent. I know it's tough on her -- a lot tougher than she'll ever let on."

While it is difficult for Simpson to sit out, it's also difficult for her team to have her sidelined.

Jennings said Simpson not only provides needed offense and defense, but also leadership.

"She definitely has the experience, and she's very vocal on the floor," Jennings said. "She reads the floor very well. She's not afraid to tell somebody, 'Hey, you need to be doing that' or 'Hey, you need to be doing this.' And that's what I like to see in someone on the floor because obviously I can't get on the floor with them."

Simpson also brings a cheerful atmosphere to the floor as she, along with junior Stephanie Essner, likes to make up songs and perform interpretive dance. Jennings said Simpson and Essner certainly keep everything fun.

Simpson has rehabbed the ankle and will wear braces on both ankles this season.

"We definitely missed her last year because she was our big middle hitter," Jennings said. "And she had a lot of leadership on the floor."

Sister duo

Simpson not only is excited about season because she thinks her team has the potential to win a lot of matches, but she also is looking forward to playing alongside her sister, Mikah, who will be a hitter and setter.

Due to their differences in age, the sisters have not played much organized volleyball together. However, they did play on the same team this summer.

Brooke said Mikah has the potential to be as good as she was when she was a freshman.

"I'm glad she's getting to play with us because she's a great volleyball player, and she definitely deserves to play on varsity," Brooke said. "We need her."

Jennings likes how Mikah is able to play the entire court.

Brooke and Mikah's father, Keith Simpson, said his two daughters get along well. He said they play volleyball together in the family pool, where they have a net set up. He said they are always in the driveway working on passing and hitting.

After attending nearly every one of Brooke's games the past two years, Mikah is excited about playing with her sister.

"Just seeing her so good made me want to be that good and made me want to be on varsity my freshman year," Mikah said.

A young team

Brooke Simpson said a young Rams team only has seven members, but the newcomers are talented and should be able to help right away.

The Scott City squad consists of two freshmen, four juniors and one senior. The lone senior is a foreign exchange student, Anna Laitinen, from Finland.

Besides her sister, Simpson looks to Katie Hogan to have a successful freshman campaign. Hogan, a 6-1 middle hitter, played in a select A2 training program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in early August.

Likewise, Simpson has been impressed with Laitinen, saying she has the hardest shot on the team.

"I know we only have seven girls to play with, but we all have a really great work ethic and we're all very competitive," Simpson said.

Local notes

• St. Vincent made its second final four appearance last year, finishing second in Class 2.

But the Indians graduated six seniors, including five starters off that squad.

Likewise, assistant coach Darren Verseman has assumed the head coaching duties, replacing Mindy House, who will not be with the team after having a baby. Verseman said the program is on a wait-and-see basis concerning House's return to the team.

"Right now, it's the obvious inexperience that is to be expected when you graduate the number of girls and starters that we graduated, " Verseman said. "Right now, we're fighting the inexperience and trying to catch up as fast as we can."

St. Vincent returns two players with starting experience -- seniors Sarah DeWilde and Courtney Besand.

"Courtney was injured last spring in soccer, so she didn't get much work this summer," Verseman said. "She had a bone bruise, I believe, in her knee so she was just a little bit behind because of a lack of training time. And Sarah is Sarah. She is in there doing her thing and she was selected as one of our team captains."

• Leopold, which finished in third place last year in Class 1, loses nine seniors -- including four top players -- off last year's team.

The Wildcats return all-Southeast Missourian player Casey Bucher, who had 240 kills and 67.5 blocks in 2007, and top server Chelsey Stoverink.

• Bell City, which has made the final four three times since 2003, graduated three of its best players: Rachel Spears, Jenny Lathum and Jessica Abner.

The Cubs lost to Leopold 2-1 in a Class 1 sectional last year.

Bell City returns setter Codie Lancaster, who had 641 assists last year, hitter Sherilyn Long, middle blocker Bethany Chilton and hitter Mallory Dockins.