By Natalie Claxton
The 2025 Ladydogs Volleyball squad is off to one of its strongest starts in recent years. The Ladydogs have been working tirelessly to perfect every aspect of their game. This year, they have a team goal to take home the title of Region Champions for the first time in Mary Persons volleyball history, followed by competing in the playoff rounds.
As of the end of August, their record is 10-6 with region play starting the first week of September.
In the past, they have faced challenges, especially finding and keeping knowledgeable coaches. This made it difficult for them to build consistency and grow as a program. Despite those struggles, the Ladydogs stayed committed and continued to work hard, determined to improve both individually and as a team. Now, with stronger leadership and a more focused approach, the team has started to come together in a refreshing way.
One of the most exciting games of the season thus far was the best-of-five matchup against ACE hosted in the brand-new Freshman Campus gym. The varsity team was down 0-2, but came back to settle the score with an incredible finish to take the final three sets. In volleyball, a “kill” is a term that refers to a direct, nonreturnable attack that results in a point for the attacking team. It is not an easy feat to rack up, but the Juniors made up a core element of the team’s score with Ava Riley having ten kills, Kyndall Morgan crushing twelve kills, and Kasyn Vannier racking up eleven kills. This game was a true testament to the girls’ ability to assess a challenging situation and change strategies to gain the win.
As a group, the team’s individual skills, teamwork, and confidence have grown substantially and they are finally beginning to see the results of their persistence and dedication. Players have found fresh energy and focus, translating to a notably stronger record and a renewed sense of momentum.
The team is now under the leadership of first-year head coach Kiersten Morrison and assistant coach Rachel Weis. Coach Morrison and Coach Weis make a great team, providing uplifting energy and support for our Ladydogs. With new coaching, and a great start to the season, the Lady Bulldogs are excited to see how far they go.
