Versatility could be key to Hawks' success

DONNELLSON - Central Lee’s volleyball team lost three of its top players after last season.
Coach Amy Cook, though, is seeing her returning players fill those spots.
“They’ve been working really, really hard,” Cook said. “The thing that sets them apart from years past is I know we’ve lost a lot of talented seniors, who definitely are going to be missed and there’s going to be a void. But these girls want to fill that void.”
The Hawks lost kills leader Taylor Jones, assists leader Kenna Sandoval, and digs leader Jayden Mueller off last season’s team. But there is still a lot left for a team that opens its season on Thursday night against Fort Madison.
Central Lee brings back triple-digit kill totals in sophomore Brylee Cook (153 kills), junior Chloee Haigh (132) and senior Nora Lampe (123). Sophomore Maggie Mullins had 82 kills last season, and senior Macee Doty had 226 digs. Sophomores Kaylee Moeller and Madison Frueh provide defensive help.
There is a versatility in that group that Amy Cook likes.
“We’re going to start out running a 6-2 (offense), but we’ll kind of take it game by game,” Cook said. “We’ve got some strong hitters, and I can move them around to different positions, so that’s nice because it gives us more flexibility and options.

“We’ve got some really good attackers. So we will find different ways to use them.”
Cook said she has talked with her team about the mental approach that it will need.
“They are aware of a need for mental toughness,” she said. “We’ve been doing a lot of reflecting in practice, and a lot of talk about staying mentally strong, staying together as a team, and that we’re all on the same goals.”
Central Lee played in one scrimmage, going to WACO on August 17.
“We missed a ton of serves, and that goes back to the mental aspect,” That’s a ‘you vs. you’ thing, you can’t blame that on anyone else.
Yes, we have some returning players, but when you put new (players) into that mix, there’s that need to get that cohesiveness and work together.”
Cook will get a good look at her team early. After playing Fort Madison, the Hawks play host to their own tournament on Saturday, then play in the Wapello Tournament next Tuesday.
“It will be good to see us in game competition, and we’ll get a good idea early about what kind of team we have,” Cook said.