Mehlville Girls Volleyball Looks For An Improved Season in 2011

Mehlville girls volleyball coach Susan Hurt has had her share of ups and downs in her 20 years as Panther head coach and there have certainly been a lot of highs as Hurt is within reach of her 300th career victory this fall.

But the 2010 season was one that was full of lows. Mehlville won two of its first four matches but then won just one match the rest of the way, finishing at a disappointing 3-21-2 mark. The Panthers were winless in their eight Suburban West Conference contests.

"We're going to start new," Hurt said. "The girls get along really well it seems and I think they're eager to help each other out. They don't want to end up 3-21 again I'm sure, the ones that were on the team last year."

The team returns its top player from last year in Lauren Cliffe. The 6-foot, 1-inch senior outside hitter not only led the team in kills last season with 113 but also led the team in digs with 314. Nobody else on the team had as many as 200 digs.

"She can put the ball down and she's got good court sense," Hurt said of Cliffe. "She will probably be our go-to girl on the outside. She plays full rotation for me. Obviously with her height, she can cover the back. One person though does not make a team in volleyball."

The key to improvement will be the development of the other returning players as well as players who come up from the junior varsity team.

Hurt plans to start the season using a 6-2 offense. Senior Amanda Altgilbers returns as a setter. She led the Panthers in assists last season.

"She's real consistent," Hurt said of Altgilbers. "She worked hard over the summer to increase her upper body strength."

Junior Shelby Gibson, who was the setter on the JV team last year, will likely be the other setter in the 6-2.

Hurt is also looking for big production from a sophomore, outside hitter Maddy Scherr.

"She is just solid all the way around," Hurt said of Scherr. "We have done all different types of drills and she can get that ball up. She moves, she hits the floor, she can get up and hit the ball. She has a lot of court sense, too."

Junior Maddie Gollihur is another returning varsity player. She took over the libero position at the end of last season and will likely be the starter there this fall.

"I'm expecting her to be a workhorse," Hurt said of Gollihur. "She's not opposed to hitting the floor at all and is pretty quick with the feet."

Despite winning just three matches last season, the goals for Hurt are not much different than they have been every year.

"I always make a general goal," Hurt said. "We always want to try and finish above .500."

The Panthers play their third match in the Marissa tournament Thursday against New Lebanon and open the regular season Tuesday at home versus Union.