Lady Cats prepare for another state run

By Andy Brown
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Updated: July 23, 2015

Senior Cate Stambaugh sends a shot over the net over the outstretched arms of teammates Anna Dixon (left) and Olivia Bradley during Louisburg volleyball team camp on July 16. Five seniors return to help guide the Lady Cats to what they hope is another state tournament appearance.

Going to the state tournament the last three years, and four of the last five, doesn’t just happen overnight.

For the Louisburg High School volleyball team, it takes dedication and a lot of hours in the gym trying to perfect its craft. The Lady Cats have spent those hours participating in summer leagues, going to team camps and working hard in the weight room.

Their busy summer ended with the Louisburg team camp last week as 29 Lady Cats were in the gym for three hours in the afternoon for five days trying to build chemistry and preparing for the start of the season, which begins in mid-August.

“The athletes and the coaching staff are ready to get the season started,” Louisburg coach Jessica Compliment said. “They have put in a lot of work in the offseason, and this summer, and are ready to see what this upcoming season will bring.

Senior Megan Lemke goes up for a kill attempt on July 16 during the Louisburg volleyball team camp.

“We have discussed goals and expectations, and they know where they want to be at the end of the season. They also understand that nothing will be handed to them. They will need to work harder than everyone else throughout the season in order to put them in a good place at the end of the season. This is a great group of athletes that work very well together, and I am excited to see what can be accomplished.”

Louisburg has put in a lot of preparation this summer as it had three teams participate in summer leagues and were able to compete in numerous matches the last two months.

The Lady Cats also made the trip to Topeka to compete in the Washburn University Team Camp as they played in 12 matches over the course of two days. According to Compliment, the players have also hit the weight room along with playing club volleyball on their own time.

“There has been some improvement from where the athletes left off at the end of the 2014 season,” she said. “We have quite a few that stay active in the off season which helps them start their summer off well. I am excited to see how the team comes together once we start official practices in August.”

Last year, the Lady Cats ended their season with a fourth-place finish at state and have come home with at least a medal in three of the last four state tournament appearances. They hope the hard work over the summer might help get them back to the state tournament for a fourth straight season.

Louisburg certainly has the experience to do it. Seniors Lauren Dunn, Madison Turner, Makenzie Kallevig, Megan Lemke and Cate Stambaugh have all made numerous trips to the state tournament.

For Dunn, she is aiming for her fourth straight trip to state as she was a part of the Class 4A Division I state runner up team two years ago and has also earned two fourth-place medals as well. Dunn, along with Turner and Kallevig, have started the last two seasons for Louisburg and Compliment hopes that experience will help give them an edge this year.

“We have quite a few returning seniors from last year’s squad,” Compliment said. “Each of the seniors have made either three or two trips to state, and they are setting their goals high again this year. We have three returning who have been starters for the past two seasons. I’ll be looking to them to lead the team this year.

“We lost two dynamic seniors (Sydney Dixon and Bailey Dvorak) from last year, and we’ll need these seniors to step up and play their roles. There is a wealth of experience returning so I am hopeful that we can start the season strong and continue to develop throughout the season.”