The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot volleyball team enters the program’s 25th season with positive vibes and high expectations. A high work ethic and team chemistry is evident in the gym as the team preps for the start of the season later this month.
“I am chomping at the bit to get started this season,” noted coach Cameron Cook. “We have 32 girls in our gym that work incredibly hard with and for each other. Most of all, they are an enjoyable group to be around because they love each other and love to compete. I have not witnessed this level of competition in our gym in some while. They are pushing each other to be their best and not settling along the way. They make it super fun and easy to coach.”
Almost half of the team’s roster are seniors or juniors, giving Cook a veteran and experienced varsity squad. The remaining 18 sophomores and juniors will sharpen their skills in play at the junior varsity and/or freshmen levels.
“For arguably the first time in my six years, we are a very veteran team in all positions,” Cook noted. “We have nine seniors and five juniors that make up the varsity team right now and every person on our bench has varsity experience.”
The senior class includes a wealth or talent, looking to carry AC-S deep into post season play. Seniors are Georgie Tabor, Claire Clay, Faith Schaberg, Laurel Weaver, Kaitlyn Duncan, Danica Harmon, Nellie Saylors, Bailey Gens, and Jaylin Blankenship.
“As far as our seniors, some of these girls have been playing a long time and been staples in this program,” Cook said. “Georgie (Tabor) is in “like her tenth season” with our program and continues to be a strong presence in our setter position. Georgie has the keys to our offense and is still working hard to perfect her craft. We will go as she goes in a lot of ways because she will pace us on both sides of the ball and with her leadership. Georgie is already the all-time assist leader but will be on track to reach 2,000 assists in her career. Claire (Clay) will be returning to our libero position to start the season for the second year in a row. She is getting more and more confident in her coverage and aggressiveness in the left back position. Her serve, leadership and energy are huge for us as we go through a long season and strong schedule. I look forward to seeing how Claire will progress in the libero position throughout her senior year. Faith (Schaberg) continues to impress me everyday in her versatility and willingness to do whatever is needed for our team. She has become stronger everyday in her attacks on the pin and she will be a key piece for us at the net on either pin. She has also developed a wicked serve that we will use. Her steadiness will be huge as the season goes on and I am so excited to see her in her senior year.”
“Laurel (Weaver) will be entering her second year in the defensive specialist role for us at the varsity level,” Cook continued. “She has progressed in her confidence in the middle back position and also has a great serve that we will be able to use in different spots. Laurel has a great energy about her and I am looking forward to her progressing even more as we go. She will be a key piece for our success in defense and serve receive. Kaitlyn (Duncan) is a player that I don't really have to introduce too much to people that have watched our team play. She will enter this season as a four-year varsity starter in the outside hitter position. She is as physical of a hitter as the 4th Region will have to offer and shows as she is now the all-time kills leader at ACS. She is a special talent both in the front row but also in her serve and pass. She is never satisfied and that is what makes her special. Danica Harmon is another key piece for us in the back row. She is one of our better and more consistent servers from last year into this year. She has also taken huge strides in her defense and serve receive games where she is helping us push our tempo. Danica is going to be a huge piece for our consistency in the back row and she has done a great job in the middle back position.”
Cook is quick to note that his remaining seniors have much to bring to the table.
“Nellie (Saylors) is one of the best teammates and just people that we have had come through our program,” Cook added. “You need a laugh, see Nellie. You need to be picked up, Nellie has got you. She has progressed in her skill just as much. She will be a second year starter in the outside or right side hitting positions. She continues to work on her diversity of shots and will be another great piece at the net for us. Baylee (Gens) has also been a long time player in our program. She is resilient in how she has bounced back from injury and her grit has helped her develop into a great player within and serve/defensive specialist. B Gens provides the energy (and yes even comic relief) that we need in the gym most of the time. She has also taken a strong leap in her defense and has a sneaky good serve that puts a lot of pressure on the other team. Jaylin (Blankenship) is a great utility piece for this team. Last season, I could put her in to serve, pass in a DS role, hit at any position. You name it, JB did it with great consistency. That is the role she can fit again this year. She is a ‘whatever is needed’ player and that is something that every team has to have to take the next step.”
Cook points out that his junior class is loaded as well with five players that will see court time---this giving AC-S a very deep pool of talent.
“Our junior class is not as large in number but has varsity experience as well and provides us some crucial pieces in our rotation,” Cook explained. “Lily Cook is entering her third year as a starter in the middle. I call her ‘Madame President’ because of her calm leadership and how well put-together she is. This shows in her game as well. She is getting more creative in her shots but provides us with a strong and consistent block. Lily will keep getting better and will provide a great presence at the net for us. Ashlyn Meador is another returning piece at the net this year. She developed greatly in the middle last year on both sides of the ball. She is another player that we can kinda put anywhere we need her on the front line. She is very reliable and just a positive spot for us because she will just do what the team needs with no show or fame going along with it. Addison Ramsey is another key piece of our back row defense. She can play anywhere across the back line and really paces us with her serve as well. I have seen her confidence boost up in a great way this offseason and I know that she will continue to take great strides this season. She is also a team energy person and helps keep everyone loose throughout tough games and practices. Alex Walker saw the varsity court some last year but will provide us with a huge presence this year at the net. She is a physical hitter and has really worked on her ability to block. She has helped us develop greater depth in all hitting positions and I know I can trust her to play mostly anywhere. I look forward to seeing how Alex grows in this role throughout the year. Ava Calvert rounds out our hitter-heavy junior class. Ava is a fierce competitor and played the ‘all gas, no brakes’ hitter for us last year. This year, we have asked her to match that aggressiveness with being under control and taking smart shots. She really gives us depth at the pins and is willing to do whatever we ask. She will do a great job in whatever we ask her to do, from having great energy on the bench to playing, we trust her and all other players to get it done.”
The all senior-junior varsity team gives Cook the freedom to look at multiple options in terms of rotations and schemes.
“This is a deep and player-led team,” Cook said. “They proved at our camps that we have a good amount of options to what we want to do. We put out plenty of different looks and I liked them all for different reasons. Also, they proved that I am way more of a support piece instead of someone that has to be constantly engaged in every play. I don't have to be the ‘crazy guy’ coach this year. I get to sit back and really watch our kids play and work together to fix problems. I now just get to do the intense coaching in practice and make those situations tougher to where they can just relax and play while in matches. They are driven and competitive. They work so well together which is what has taken our offense up a notch. We will be quicker in our tempo and run a diverse offense. They make the challenges fun. As long as we are consistent in our first touch (both serve and serve receive) we will give other teams different looks. We will not be the biggest team on the court by any stretch of the imagination but we will outwork you and scrap with the best of them.”
Cook knows that the Lady Patriots road to a District 15 title will be challenging given the strength and experience of Warren East, Barren County, and Glasgow.
“Our district will be a gauntlet this year,” Cook said. “Everyone is old in some ways. Warren East returns a great nucleus of players while also gaining a couple. We saw them at WKU camp and they will be a very fundamental and physical team. We know a lot of what we are going to see with them but that definitely doesn't make it any easier. Barren has a great amount of physicality and athleticism returning for them this coming year. They kept their rotation intact from last year for the most part and I know it will never be easy playing them. Glasgow is experienced in a lot of their positions and I know that their coach has her kids playing really hard and advancing their game. We saw them at the WKU camp as well and I am sure they will continue to be a tough team to beat. Nothing in our district will be simple, it will be a challenge every night.”
Yet, Cook says the challenges will serve as building blocks for his squad.
“We are excited by those challenges and we really hope that the rest of our schedule gets us prepared to compete at a high level and go on a little run in October,” Cook added. “This team is capable of that, but we have to control our side of the net and know that this season has 33 opportunities to grow and keep our mindset towards the postseason.”
The veteran coach encourages students, faculty, and the community to come and watch his girls on the court.
“This will be my 13th season as part of the AC-S volleyball program in some capacity and it truly has grown to a level I have yet to see,” Cook noted. “Coming to Patriot Gym, you are going to see an exciting game with kids that love each other and the game and a deeper level than I have witnessed. I can promise, it has nothing to do with coaching, but everything to do with how these kids carry themselves and love AC-S volleyball. I am humbled and blessed to be a small part of something this special year in and year out. I love AC-S and this program, but most of all, I love the kids that dedicate such a large amount of time to something bigger than themselves. They make coming to practice, every long night on the road, or every win or loss worth it times a million. I promise that you will not regret coming to watch them compete for the name on the front of the jersey. If you need money for a ticket, reach out and I will take care of it. I dream of a night that we have those home stands full. These kids deserve that and I will not rest until they get that type of environment and feeling. Don't miss an opportunity to truly witness something special.”
The Lady Patriots scrimmage Saturday at Phil Moore Park in Bowling Green. The JV squad takes the court at 7:45 a.m. with the varsity playing around noon. On Thursday, August 14, AC-S travels to Logan County for their final preseason scrimmage. Their season starts on Monday, August 18 when Clinton County comes to Patriot Gym. Home matches begin at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. with varying order of play---dependant on the opponent. Most home matches include both varsity and either junior varsity or freshman play. Tickets are $7 cash only. Allen County Schools students receive free admission.