Stalwarts Jena Otec, Shelby Meyer and Eleanor Russell graduated last spring. Head coach Dustin Cutts stepped down after leading St. Pius X to the Class 2 state volleyball championship last fall.
It took about an hour for the Lancers to dispatch Hermann 25-15, 25-21 in the final last October in Cape Girardeau.
Senior Emma Grimshaw, a first-team all-state selection last season, hasn’t played yet this season because of an illness. New head coach Shannon Leftridge said Grimshaw could be out three more weeks.
It’s time for doom and gloom for the Lancers and their continued run of excellence, right? Other volleyball programs might struggle to overcome the loss of Otec (first team all-state selection), Meyer (likewise) and Russell, who were the driving forces in keeping St. Pius focused on winning a state championship; as well as the departure of a coach who led the team to the state final four every year; and the absence of their top offensive weapon.
But not St. Pius, which has advanced to the state final four in Class 2 or Class 3 every year since 2010. The Lancers had a record of 5-0 after sweeping the Windsor Tournament with four victories in one afternoon (Aug. 19) and a 25-5, 25-11 victory over North County in Bonne Terre on Aug. 22.
“Our girls work hard in practice every day,” said Leftridge, who was a Lancer assistant coach for the last three years. “They know the expectations from previous years and they keep that in mind.”
Cutts left behind a record of 98-14-3, but the cupboard is hardly bare as he left Leftridge nine seniors: Grimshaw, Erica Schrader, Kyla Greenlee, Lindsey Rich, Madalyn Michael, Tisha Gaylord, Carley Nicholson (another first team all-state pick), Julia Houston and Aubrie Harris.
Leftridge said she has told her players if they want the state title, they have to come to work every day.
“Most of these girls play club volleyball in the offseason but I only get them a few months,” Leftridge said. “The proof is in our practicing. We practice hard every day. I will put in extra time with them if they want to stay after and work extra.”
Leftridge got a good sense of the type of team she’s coaching in the third game of the Windsor championship against Mehlville, which beat the Lancers 25-16 in the second game of their match. St. Pius spotted the Panthers a 17-8 lead in the deciding game before rallying for a 25-23 victory.
“When we were losing, I looked at (the Lancers’) faces and wondered what their reaction would be,” Leftridge said. “The (Panthers) are a very big hard-hitting team with three six footers at the net and we knew they were going to be a challenge.
“Mehville had us rattled. They were digging every ball and their defense was phenomenal. When we were losing (in the third game), it was stressful, but exciting to watch them fight their way back.”
When Grimshaw returns, she gives the Lancers one of the top middle hitters in the state. Grimshaw (6-0) finished second to Otec (511 kills) on St. Pius in kills last season with 211. Otec was selected as the Jefferson County Activities Association small-schools most valuable player last season.
“She is our top scorer out of the middle,” Leftridge said. “She can hit a variety of sets. She can go to the right or left. She doesn’t just stay in the middle. She’s very versatile.”
With Grimshaw out, Houston stepped into her position and has played admirably, Leftridge said.
“That says something about the girls and how they’re always willing to fill in,” Leftridge said. “Julia has played middle before so she was a perfect fit.”
Nicholson returns as the setter and will run the team’s efficient 5-1 offense again. Nicholson had 28 assists in the state championship and had 961 (11.3 per game) for the season.
Rich, a defensive specialist, could fill in for Nicholson when Leftridge runs a 6-2 offense.
“Lindsey has a great serve,” Leftridge said. “We might mix it up a few games.”
Trisha Gaylord, an outside hitter, is the hardest hitter on the team, Leftridge said. Greenlee is the libero and key to the defense. Schrader is a defensive specialist who can play all three back positions. Haley Lewis is a right-side hitter. Michael is a middle back who is responsible for a large area of the court.
“She goes after every ball, which makes her perfect for her position,” Leftridge said.
Junior middle hitter Kaylee Portell (6-0) had 104 kills, 25 blocks and got on the court during the final a year ago.
“She is a great blocker and is developing a lot of different sets,” Leftridge said. “We are able to run different things offensively because Carley’s there for those hitters. She does what she can to put her hitters in the best position.”
Sophomore Caly Otec is a different kind of player than her older sister, Jena. Caly chipped in with a pair of kills against Hermann and had 105 for the year.
“She’s a different kid,” Leftridge said of Caly. “She’s a developing player who’s working hard and is focused. She’s aware of what she needs to work on. She wants to be the best Caly can be, which is different than her sister. She and Jena are very close and I think Jena has helped her a lot.”