Despite having just three returning players, the Montgomery County volleyball team is still setting its sights on turning in another strong season this fall.

The Wildcats finished 12-12-4 in 2023 after turning in losing records in 2021 and 2022 and won their sixth consecutive Eastern Missouri Conference championship. They were eliminated by Tolton Catholic in the district semifinals.

Seniors Avery Leu, Ava Rakers and Alexis Ramo are the returning players from the 2023 team and will lead a squad that has six players who are participating in varsity for the first time.

“The biggest thing that I want from this team is just growth,” MCHS coach Rachel Leu said. “I want them to realize that last year is over. This is a new season. I have three seniors who can be leaders for us. I’ve got some young players that we are relying on. But for us, it’s about staying positive and being there for each other and not allowing ourselves to get frustrated. I think if we can keep that focus, I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

Last year, Rakers and Ramo earned all-EMO honors, while Avery Leu – the coach’s daughter – recorded 143 digs. They have been playing with the MCHS program since they were freshmen.

“What I really like about these girls is they keep plugging away,” Rachel Leu said. “Even if we’re down by a lot or right there with it, they never give up. They’ll come up with plays that are unexpected, but are also motivating.”

Junior Kylie Powell, sophomores Aubrey Janes, Khloe Kribbs and Megan Pierson and freshmen Keira and Mieka Ray-Wise round out the varsity roster. Last year, Janes, Kribbs and Pierson played on a JV team that had three just victories. The Ray-Wise sisters were on the Montgomery County Middle School eighth-grade team that finished 7-3.

Rachel Leu said patience will be the key for the new varsity players.

“We’re going to have our mistakes because we’re young,” the coach said. “The athleticism is there. The ability is there. But the important thing is if we get too down on ourselves, then we stop getting better as players.”

The Wildcats began their season on Sept. 3 with a three-game loss (16-25, 21-25, 10-25) to Hermann at Ballew & Snell Court. MCHS was winning 20-19 in the second game before Hermann came back to win that game and the match.

Leu said she was pleased with her team’s effort against last year’s runner-up in Class 2.

“I feel like that’s good momentum to keep as we get more into the season and start conference play,” Leu said. “I’m really proud of the girls. I thought they had some really good plays and some really good team effort and some scrappiness, too. It was fun to watch, for sure.”

Leu said her squad got a boost of confidence from the junior varsity team, which beat Hermann in three games.

“That was an ultimate team effort,” she said. “We had great plays from all of the players, the freshman and sophomores. When we needed them, they came through for us. I’m just really loving the camaraderie this group has. They’re so excited and so into it. It’s great to have that energy on the court. I definitely think that helped fuel the varsity to get them pumped up, too.”

The Wildcats lost five players to graduation.