Filling the shoes of a 1^st team all state, 1^st team all conference, Kayley Lyons, with over 500 kills in one season isn’t an easy task.  But this year, the Lady Falcon volleyball team isn’t followering the bars.

   “The potential is there,” Coach Stephanie Bates said.  “We just have to have everything fall into place, and a little luck on our side.”

   Luck is good, but all was not lost for a team last year that rolled through districts, and on to the final four in Kansas City.  Lyons was the face of Glendale volleyball, but this season, junior Olivia Brand takes the role of being the go-to player racking up the kills.

   “She can do anything we need her to do,” senior setter Morgan Sidwell said.  “She gets a good 10 kills a game, and she kills the back row for us too.”

   Brand sees a little difference from last years final four team.  More ball movement and trying to get everyone involved is a must.

   “We have to spread the offense a lot,” Brand said.  “And we have to keep the other team moving.”

Defensively, opponents are dealing with a larger and grittier Lady Falcon team.  This opens up more opportunities to score off of blocks.

   “Size wise we’re bigger on the front row,” Bates said.  “We have a good rotation with solid blocking on the front row.”

   Brand agrees.

  “Our defense has improved and we are more scrappy.” 

   Brand is backed by strong senior twin duo of Mallory and Morgan Sidwell, an outside hitter and setter respectively.  Both of the twins and Brand both have post-season experience and hope to carry a younger team to the final four once again.

   “They work hard,” Bates said.  “They’re very competitive and they know what it takes.  They have the intangibles.”

   The Sidwell duo has also taken on the role as being leaders.  A lot of strong underclassmen get time on the court, making the leadership role that much more important.

   “Sometimes it gets a little chaotic,” Sidwell said.  “We have to be able to step up and work hard.”

  The Lady Falcons are currently 15-3 and 2-1 in conference.  The first order of business is to lock up a conference title, which as of now, isn’t theirs.

  “Camdenton is undefeated in conference,” Bates said.  “They’re definitely in the driver’s seat.”

   The Class 4 District 11 playoffs will take place at Ozark High School on October 22^nd, where the Lady Falcons hope to repeat.