Lady Eagles have lofty season expectations
Featuring a roster full of key returnees, Boulder City High School girls volleyball is looking to make an extended postseason run this season.
“We have a lot of experience coming back this year and we’re hopeful that pays off for us,” head coach Chad Robinson said. “We’re hopeful to build on last season’s success and make a run at the state tournament.”
Bringing back of handful of impact players, senior Bella Battistone is ready to take on a captain role, prepping for it the past two seasons.
“I’m super excited for my senior year,” Battistone said. “I’m hopeful we can make a run at state. I have great teammates who want to get there and win it. It makes for a great environment to be around.”
A second-team All-League selection a season ago, Battistone will look to improve upon her junior campaign, where she generated 137 kills, with 42 digs, 26 blocks and 14 aces.
“Bella’s been a key player for us the last two years,” Robinson said. “We expect her to take on a larger role this season and have a really great year.”
Forming a solid core, sophomore Laylani Gubler returns after finishing her first year on varsity as a All-League honorable mention selection, along with senior Ally Jappe, juniors Juliette Kelso, Lauren Mueller and sophomore Kenley Poff.
Gubler played a jack-of-all-trades role for the Eagles last season, tallying 269 assists, 109 digs, 93 kills, 25 aces and 25 blocks, while Jappe added 264 assists, 77 digs and 61 aces.
Big bodies on the net, Kelso and Poff each generated a team-leading 33 blocks last season, while Mueller added 14 blocks.
Poff made 75 kills last season while Kelso added 51 and Mueller 26.
“All of these girls have played as underclassmen and we really expect that to pay off for us this season,” Robinson said. “They gained some valuable experience over the years and have played together. This year’s team is an older one.”
Starting off strong with the Las Vegas Invitational, the Eagles will play 5A Coronado on Friday in their first tournament match.
