Following a season in which the E-gals volleyball team failed to string together wins consistently, they are looking to grow together as a team in order to turn things around in 2022.
Apollo finished with an overall record of 14-22 last season, as its year came to a close in the first round of the 9th District Tournament to eventual champion Daviess County. The E-gals roster boasts a plethora of returning players that will be crucial parts of the team according to Head Coach MaryAnne Howard.
“Our top returners for this season are Kelsey Dickinson, Kaley Dickinson, Ahalia Ramirez, and Ava Fazio,” Howard said. “These players played a significant amount in the rotation last season. Ahalia Ramirez is a returning all district team award winner.”
This core group will be joined by a number of newcomers, including Jennifer Lee, Ella Alvey, Abie Butterworth, Alivia Norris, Kadi Daugherty, Elise Wilson. Howard said these players have begun to assert themselves already this season to help fill out the rotation.
Apollo has already competed in one match, getting swept by Trinity (Whitesville) in three sets 25-14, 25-16, 25-18. They are gearing up for a big weekend, as it’s the time of the year for the annual Apollo Summer Slam.
“We are looking forward to this upcoming weekend (August 19th and 20th), we are hosting our annual summer slam tournament and this year is bigger than ever with 32 teams entered from across eight regions in kentucky and three teams from Tennessee,” Howard said. “The tournament will be held at Apollo High School and the Owensboro Convention Center. It will be a great weekend to come and see some high level volleyball.”
As far as expectations for the year ahead, Howard said that they are focused on building team chemistry and consistency as Apollo’s season goes on. With no seniors and extremely young roster, they are looking for steady improvement with teamwork as a focal point going forward.
“Keys to success this year will be communication and bringing a high level of energy every time we play,” Howard said. “We would like to improve our consistency throughout matches and maintain a high level of play from start to finish.”
