KENNETT, Mo. - Head volleyball coach Kristy Green is entering her second year back with the Indians.

Last year, the Indians finished with a 10-14 record as Greens roster mostly consisted of sophomores and freshmen,

Now, Green and her team are hoping to elevate their potential and exceed last year's performance.

“Last year we only had freshmen and sophomores,” Green said. “This year, we’re a year older, we just want to elevate those things we did last year. We had to really battle some older varsity teams and I think that experience has given them an edge coming back into this season.”

Kennett has six juniors returning this year, including Ella Gardner and Kynsly McCaig.

In her sophomore season, Gardner was Second Team All-SEMO Conference and Second Team All-District. She returns as a strong hitter and setter.

McCaig will also play roles as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. Last season, McCaig served some time as libero for the Indians. Green will look to these two and the other juniors as leaders as they begin to elevate their game.

According to Gardner, she is up for the challenge this season.

“Even though we are juniors, we’ve been playing like seniors for a long time,” Gardner said. “We haven’t had any seniors so we basically are and we’ve taken that role.”

Green has been implementing this theme of elevation through hard work and teamwork.

This started during summer workouts which she said has paid off in the opening weeks of the season.

“We worked really hard all summer,” Green said. “Our first couple weeks have been reflective of the work they put in over the summer.”

According to Green, getting back in the weight room this summer has helped tremendously for her players. Due to extra confidence in their work and strength, Green said they have improved in skills on the court.

She said this has also increased the team’s chemistry and trust in each other on the court.

“We got back in the weight room and that really gave us a good boost,” Green said. “Our speed has increased, our power, our ability to get to the ball. We were able to build a culture and the summer work allowed them to do that together. I think it strengthened not just our physical abilities, but our teamwork as well.”

Green acknowledges their growth could be due to finally having upperclassmen who can take charge. She also noted how her leaders this year were forced to be leaders as early as last season, which gives them an advantage in experience.

McCaig and Gardner both said the teamwork and chemistry has grown this season compared to last.

“I love the connection we have,” McCaig said. “We’ve been playing with each other for a long time now. We had a little league team in 5th grade and we all played together.”

Now the two juniors are shaping this team for the duration of the fall season. Just like Green, they want to take everything they did last year and make it better.

After a win against Campbell and Charleston, the Indians started their season 2-0.

The team hopes to carry this momentum through the rest of the season. Gardner said she is ready to prove their worth this season every time the Indians step on the court.

“I think we can show that we’ve had so much growth and we can make it a lot further this year,’ Gardner said. “I’m excited to see what we have in store and we’re pumped.”