Tuter enters fifth year as Lady Tigers’ head coach
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, August 26, 2015 — PAGE 17
by Hobby King SPORTS WRITER
Peggy Tuter enters her fifth year as head coach of the Wellington Lady Tigers' volleyball team with optimism. However her 2015 team will be young. Of the 16 players on the roster, less than half are upper upperclassmen. The roster includes two seniors, five juniors and five sophomores. The Lady Tigers are coming off a season in which they were 18-92 overall and made it to the semifinal round of their district tournament. But the Lady Tigers will have to find solid replacements for seniors Mikayla Lohsandt and Abby Thompson, both first-team all-conference selections in 2014. One of the team's powerful hitters will be 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter Morgan Weedman. Also a player who saw some varsity time last year and will be counted on this year is 5-6 junior Jayme White. Others who could get some play-
ing time on the varsity level as outside hitters include 5-8 junior Tessa Bushnell, 5-7 junior Carington Key, 5-6 sophomore Kiera Paige and 5-8 junior Sammy Blystone. “Tessa has flexibility in playing each position (on the front row),” Tuter said. “She adapts very well. “Kiera is a very aggressive player with sound fundamentals. Sammy has a strong block and is getting much stronger in putting each set away. She gives us a strong rightside hitter in a 5-1.” A freshman could be the starter for the Lady Tigers as middle hitter. Tuter said Carleigh Jenkins, who is 5-8, is “very strong and is starting to mature. She did a great job during summer league. Once she gets some playing time, I think she will be very good. Caitlin Niendick, a 5-7 sopho-
Tuter said the team should have a “very balanced offensive attack. . .”
more, also could get some varsity height last year. Quick and steady is playing time. our motto.” “She has a very strong block and She said teamwork and unity will is coming along quickly in learning be a key to the team having success. the offense,” Tuter said. The leader of the offense will be returning starter, 5-7 senior Jaime Ruskey. This will be her third Physical Therapy of Concordia year as a starter. “She has good court Locally Owned... Local Therapists... presence and is a strong Local Success server,” Tuter said. “She will only get better as the season progresses.” Kiera Southgard, a 5-0 sophomore, is the Kathy Cooper, PT leading candidate for libero who played some Shelly Yount, PTA varsity toward the end of last season, accordJaala Schlesselman, PTA ing to Tuter. “She is a quick deKris Reinwald, fensive-minded athJennifer McCaslin, PT lete,” Tuter said. Tuter said the team Brandi Reinwald should have a “very balanced offensive attack with plenty of athletes on the bench to help support.” Tuter has an upbeat outlook to the upcoming season. Monday 8am - 6pm, Tuesday 8am – 5pm, Wednesday 8am - 6pm, “(We're) going to Thursday 8am - 5pm, Friday 8am - 6pm rely on our back row this year,”she said. “We do have strong blocks, but we lost much of our
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