With 22 wins this season, the Cambridge Lady Bears volleyball team is ranked #10 in the State, the highest ranking the program has achieved in the school's three-year history.
From five wins in year one to a break-even record last year, the team's rise to a state ranking this year under Coach Katie Johnson marks the level of talent, perseverance and guts of the 11-player squad. "These girls use every game as an opportunity to learn. They don't rely only on their skills to take them all away. We are working on strengthening our mental toughness as we finish regular season play and head into matches with highly competitive teams in post-season," says Coach Johnson.
The team's roster this year includes only four players who have been members of the team all three years – Juniors Eileen Hardy, Madison Ulman and Alex Wright – and the team's only senior, Lexi Paganelli. This year's roster has been boosted by a talented group of freshmen – Sterling Hines, Shelby Luxton and Anna Youngs – who have been posting impressive stats throughout the season.
In last week's match against Parkview High, Anna Youngs and sophomore Regan Swift led in kills, each earning 6 across both sets, followed by Alex Wright and Sophomore Lauren Swift each with 4 kills. Shelby Luxton earned 12 assists with Olivia Hansen adding seven assists. Sterling Hines had 12 digs and Lauren Swift achieved 2 service aces.
Against Duluth, Sterling Hines posted 4 kills and 6 digs – playing well offensively and defensively – while teammates Lauren Swift, Regan Swift, Freshman Emma Todd, Alex Wright and Anna Youngs earned 3 kills each. Lauren Swift bolstered the defense with 7 digs, with Sterling Hines contributing 6 digs.
The Bears play again on Tuesday, September 30th at Kell High School to wrap up region play.
Go Bears!