The Dolores volleyball team is ready to make some noise in the San Juan Basin League.
Last year, the Lady Bears finished with an 11-12 overall record and 6-6 in league play to wind up smack in the middle of the SJBL.
But with the league’s top four finishers – Ridgway, Ignacio, Norwood and Nucla – all losing multiple key contributors to graduation, the time is ripe for Dolores to step up.
The Bears have some holes to fill themselves after losing Larissa Umberger to graduation and sophomore Aryelle Wright to transfer. But entering her eighth year as head coach, Gina Hollen is fortunate to have a solid group of returners to rely upon.
Seniors Harlie Valdez and Alyana Frasier, juniors Sierra Schwartz, Cameron Elder and Josie Majors and sophomore Tatum Majors are all back after playing significant roles for Dolores last season.
Schwartz, Josie Majors and Frasier were top three in serves received, Elder led the team in blocks and Tatum Majors finished third, Frasier was second on the team in digs, Josie Majors tallied the second most kills and aces, and Schwartz finished third in kills, aces and digs.
Senior Bailey Boyd, sophomores Cameron Schafer and Abby Jones, and freshman Jordan Elder round out the varsity squad.
Hollen is currently looking at Jones and Boyd to step into what was previously Umberger’s setter position, but the Lady Bears will also need to replace her leadership role on the floor.
“That’s a huge hit,” said Hollen. “She was my leader four years in a row. So I don’t know. I’m hearing things from a few different girls stepping up in huddles. But right now it’s up for grabs.”
The Lady Bears worked out some jitters last Saturday in scrimmages at Pagosa Springs, but Hollen said she’s still fiddling with lineups and schemes to determine the team’s best options.
“We’re still getting comfortable playing with each other,” she said. “But I think it will come. They’ll get there and gel and mesh.”
Dolores officially kicks off the 2016 season on Friday at Le Veta before moving on to Walsenburg on Saturday for the John Mall Tournament. The Lady Bears first home game is scheduled for Tuesday, August 30 against Telluride.