Under new head coach, Highland volleyball Bulldogs aim to improve on last season
Coming off a disappointing 16-17 campaign last season, the Highland Bulldogs volleyball team will look to trend upward this fall under new coach Anna Murphy.
Murphy, a former standout middle blocker at Greenville University who graduated in 2021, takes over the program from Natalie Ott, who returned to her town of O’Fallon to coach the Panthers program this fall.
“Last year I was (coaching) JV and was Natalie Ott’s assistant and this year I’m doing it (as head coach),” Murphy said.
Top returners for the Bulldogs include senior setter Maddie Hime, senior middle Larissa Taylor, seniors Abby and Alex Schultz at outside hitter, junior defensive specialist Ally Russo, and right setter Emma Ernst.
A newcomer that is expected to make a big impact on the court will be senior transfer Arianna Wyatt.
“She is someone to look out for who will definitely be a part of our starting lineup,” Murphy said. She’s definitely one of our best players.”.
Wyatt is slated to work into the lineup at middle blocker.
Scoring points should be the strength of the Bulldogs this season as Taylor, the Schultz’s, and Wyatt can attack opposing defenses with scoring hits from different spots on the floor.
“We’ll be very strong offensively and I think we have a lot of flexibility and a lot of hitters who are able to be flexible and do some different things which will make us a lot more aggressive,” Murphy said.
After two weeks of practice, Finch is pleased with how the girls have adjusted to her coaching and their approach to practice and preparation.
“The girls have been really, really great and they have really taken on a lot of their own leadership, and I want it to be as much their program as it is mine,” Murphy said. They’ve been really great about leadership and helping to hold each other accountable and my assistant coaches have been great and have been able to help me out quite a bit.”
The Bulldogs hope to compete with Mascoutah and Waterloo and be a top-four finisher in the Mississippi Valley Conference championship race. Highland would like to advance to the Class 3A Regional championship game as well, Murphy said.
Highland opens the 2023 season on Thursday, Aug. 24 with a 6 p.m. match at Collinsville.