Whether the new gymnasium at Park Hill High School is ready or not, the Park Hill girls volleyball team is back for another season.
The Trojans return the vastly experienced duo of Ava Daneff and Parker Kimball. The pairing has been on the varsity squad since their freshman year and will lead the team for one final season.
“Expectations include a strong group of seniors who all have unique leadership styles and own those,” head coach Lindsey Hood said. “Our youth in the program is strong and would imagine will impress spectators.”
Park Hill will also return setters Tessa Walker and Myer Cohara, alongside defensive specialists Brooke Brown and Addyson Staples. Kennedy Altic will also have an impact as a 6-foot-1 blocker right-side hitter.
With the loss of 2024 senior standout Boston Wand, sophomore Nikyah Chappell is expected to step up to fill big shoes with her athleticism and skill. Payton Osegueda, another sophomore who led the team in kills last year, will also be an integral part of the team following a year where she earned all-conference and all-district honors as a freshman.
Hood has optimism for this season since the team has been together for a while and has shown adaptability. The Trojans are hunting for their first district title since 2021, which has been followed by eliminations in three consecutive district semifinal appearances.
The other burning topic for Park Hill volleyball is the new gymnasium, which is still a work in progress. Park Hill hopes the new gym will be ready in time for the home opener, but if not, they will still be eager to start the season in the old one.
“The girls are excited for something new, but ultimately, they just want to play,” Hood said.