September 12, 2024

VOLLEYBALL: Bulldogs carry high hopes into 2024 season

By Ryan Stonebraker
Emma Boswell hits the ball over the net during a playoff volleyball match against Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton.

Emma Boswell hits the ball over the net during a playoff volleyball match against Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton. (Caleb Nelson)

Orient-Macksburg had a fine volleyball season a year ago, as the Bulldogs claimed an overall record of 8-10 in 18 matches played. The win total was the highest for the program since the Bulldogs won nine games in 2013. The 2023 win total was also one more win than the past three seasons combined.

Eleven players comprise Orient-Macksburg’s roster this season, in what could be the last at Orient-Macksburg. O-M’s future is very much up in the air as it goes through a dissolution process. For at least one more year, the red and white will suit up for a volleyball season.

“With this the potential of possibly the last season of volleyball for the school, the kids are doing well,” said co-head coach Reagan White, whose co-head coach is Becca Ross. As the school situation gets sorted out, this year’s team is coming together with a mix of returners and promising new players.

“They are excited, they have been working hard. They want to go out and have the best season they can after coming off a good season last year. The energy is good this year and the girls are ready to go,” said White.

Last year was the first year for divisional play in the Bluegrass Conference. The conference was divided into east and west divisions with Seymour winning the east and Ankeny Christian winning the west. The Bulldogs had a pair of all-conference selections last year in 2024 seniors Kinsey Eslinger and Kasyn Shinn. The team was fourth in the conference with a 2-3 mark.

The four seniors on last year’s squad were Tiffany Ott, Kasyn Shinn, Eslinger and Emily Campbell. Ott was second on the team in kills with 41, followed by Campbell and Eslinger, who had 37 and 28, respectively. Shinn had six kills and led the team with 211 digs while Eslinger had 100. Eslinger had a team-best 69 aces.

The top hitter and top blocker for the Bulldogs returns in junior Emma Boswell. She had 122 kills as a sophomore and a team-high 24 blocks. She also tacked 72 digs and 127-for-167 serving with 41 aces to her season stat line.

New players this year will be Brailee Shinn, Addison Shinn, Ella Boswell and Mattie Thompson. Ella Boswell is a hitter, as is Brailee Shinn. Addison Shinn can play all around and Thompson could get a lot of time as a setter.

A look at the schedule shows that the Bulldogs will play five of their first seven matches at home this year. The home opener is Aug. 29 against Melcher-Dallas and Paton-Churdan comes to town Sept. 3. In mid-September, Diagonal, Ankeny Christian and Moravia all come to Orient for matches. The team also hosts Mormon Trail Oct. 3. The conference tournament is Oct. 15 and 17 at sites to be determined.

This Wednesday, the Bulldogs were set to host a four-team scrimmage. Schools coming were East Union, Diagonal and Murray.