Ben Whitehead
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN —
Just about the only difference between this year’s Duncan volleyball team and last year’s is a year of experience.
The Lady Demons are currently ranked No. 12 in Class 5A after getting out to an 8-2 start. Duncan has not lost a set in any of its eight wins.
There’s no secret to their success, according to Lady Demon head coach Randi Pawpa.
“We’ve got kids that work hard, play well together and have a good attitude,” Pawpa said. “They’re coachable and they’re chemistry with each other is great. This group has played together for three or four years now and they have a lot of fun.”
Pawpa said there was one addition to the team that was more than welcomed. Bree Fritschow moved to Duncan and joined the team over the summer and brought several things to the table.
“We’re very excited to have her,” said Pawpa. “She brings height and is a big-time hitter. We have a lot of good hitters on the team, but we’re sure glad to add another. She’s also a very good blocker and that’s something that we’ve needed.”
The Lady Demons did not lose a single player to graduation last season. Five seniors are on this year’s squad and Pawpa said each of them has done what it takes to lead the team.
“All of our girls got better from last year,” she said. “We’ve seen tremendous improvement from all of them, especially our seniors.”
Three of those five have spent a good bit of time on the court this season. Pawpa said that seniors Kathryn Jeffords, Kaley Neal and Taylor Spradlin have given the Lady Demons a big boost.
“Kathryn has been our setter the last three years and she’s very comfortable in that position,” said Pawpa. “She pretty much runs our offense from that spot. Kaley is a second-year starter and she’s one of those girls that’s just consistent the whole way through. She’s excellent on defense and passing. She’s not a real hard hitter but she hits the ball down. You just know what you’re going to get out of her every day. And Taylor is a four-year starter and one of our team leaders. She’s hitting the ball real well right now.
“All three are playing really well. We need them to play well to continue to have success.”
Jeffords said it’s important for the seniors to go out on top and that getting to the state tournament is a goal they’ve had for a long time.
“We (the seniors) were charter members of the first middle school team in Duncan and we want to go to state because no one else has done it before,” Jeffords said.
In order to reach that goal, Neal said the Lady Demons will have to continue to get better.
“It’s our last year but we want to get better every day,” Neal said. “We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up and we have to be ready for those.”
Spradlin agreed and added that she’s looking forward to the Cache Tournament, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 11.
“The competition at Cache is really good and it’s pretty much what state will be like,” Spradlin said. “We got fourth there last year and we thought we could win it. This year, we want to win it.”
Duncan will host Lawton High in its next match, and only one before the Cache Tournament, at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
— Ben Whitehead is the sports editor for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 255-5354, Ext. 165, or via e-mail at ben.whitehead@duncanbanner.com.
