John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
DONNELLSON - Inexperience comes with its challenges, and Central Lee High School volleyball coach Amy Cook is finding that out with her team as it gets ready to start the season.
There are some veteran players, but for the most part the Hawks don’t have a lot of varsity experience.
That has meant August has been about building the fundamentals of the program.
“It’s really about building that trust and the communication on the court,” Cook said. “Just being a young team comes with a little bit of being timid at first. They’re getting a ton better at that. But it’s something we have to keep honing in on a little bit.”
The Hawks went 16-11 last season, 5-3 in the powerful SEI Superconference South Division.
Cook likes what she has seen so far from her team in preparation for Saturday’s season-opening matches at a tournament the Hawks are hosting.
“I think things are going great,” Cook said. “We have a lot of seniors, but we only have two coming back who played a lot on varsity. So we have a young team in that aspect. They’re getting better every day — just trusting each other and building those relationships. They’re good kids, and I’m really fortunate for that.”
The Hawks do have power in their outside hitters. Senior Makayla Morrison had 308 kills and, as a 97 percent server last season, will be a full-rotation player. Senior Bailey Schwartz, the other outside hitter, had just 10 kills last season, but Cook said the work she has put in during the offseason has paid off.
The rest of the lineup is young, though.
Freshman Taylor Jones and sophomore Halle Lampe will be the middle hitter. Senior Karlie Pohren, who saw some varsity time last season, and freshman Kenna Sandoval will be the setters. Senior Mya Lampe will also be part of the rotation, but she didn’t play last season.
The Hawks will have to contend with a division schedule that includes top-ranked (Class 1A) Holy Trinity, No. 8 (Class 1A) and defending state champion Notre Dame, and No. 4 (Class 2A) West Burlington.
“We do have a really tough conference,” Cook said. “But that’s really the only way you’re going to get better, when you play those tough teams. Yeah, it’s harder during the actual conference games, but it’s going to make us better in the end, I feel like.”
For now, it’s just about getting to know each other for the Hawks.
“They’re definitely stepping up — the seniors are doing a great job of leading the team,” Cook said. “We’ve just got to build those relationships, and I think we’re doing that.”
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