The new look Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs volleyball team has high hopes this year.
Only one starter from last seasons team that posted a 9-10 record is gone. Everybody else is back, including 2010 1A San Juan Basin League All-Conference sophomores Shelbie Knuckles (outside hitter) and Madison Young (middle hitter).
There is a new coach with a new scheme in Dove Creek. Scott Knuckles is in his first year of high school coaching and has enforced a 6-2 rotation on the court. Assisting Scott Knuckles is coach Jody Gardner.
Its exciting, but Im kind of nervous, too, Knuckles said about coaching. We have a good group of girls athleticwise. A lot of them are four-sport girls. It helps me out more than anything.
Seniors Jessica Heaton (setter) and Morgan McCourt (middle hitter) have been named the captains this year by a team vote. Sophomores Cori and Jessica Guynes look to play a big part in the rotation this year. Shelbie Knuckles led the Lady Bulldogs last season in total attacks (591) and kills (186), while Young totaled the most solo blocks at 165.
We pretty much have the same team back, coach Knuckles said. We have a big sophomore class.
In the offseason, Dove Creek went to Mancos and Durango to participate in the Adams State and Fort Lewis summer volleyball camps. The Lady Bulldogs recently played in a unofficial tournament in Montrose to get them ready for the regular season.
It was a good experience, coach Knuckles said. We met up with a couple 2A schools and 3A schools. I felt that we held our own against the bigger schools.
The players are eagerly awaiting to hit the court for official matches.
I think everyone is really excited. We had the scrimmage in Montrose, and it went really good, Heaton said. We have a new formation that were working on this year, and its starting to mix really good.
The season starts Wednesday at home against the Grand County (Moab, Utah) junior varsity at 5 p.m. Then the Lady Bulldogs turn around the next day to go to Blanding, Utah, and face the Lady Broncos JV at 5 p.m. San Juan will play in Dove Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 20, and the Lady Bulldogs will play a home-and-home series with Monument Valley, Utah, beginning at home on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and then on the road Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Utah schools are always good and tough. Its a good first-game experience, coach Knuckles said.
SJBL play starts Tuesday, Sept. 13, at home with Ignacio. Dove Creek will travel to rivals Mancos and Dolores on Friday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, and host Mancos in the regular season finale Saturday, Oct. 22.
Dove Creek hasnt made the 1A state tournament since the seniors were freshmen. Heaton and McCourt definitely would like to end their careers at the state tournament in Denver.
I think all of us are aiming for state, Heaton said. All of us want to go and play at state. Thats one of our big goals.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.