BOUGHFMAN PLUS 5 SOPHOMORES LEAD LADY REDSKINS

By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

LITTLE RIVER – As the 2021 season kicks off Tuesday for the Little River volleyball team, they look to find enough success to advance to the state tournament on the efforts of all-state senior Lily Boughfman and five sensational sophomores.

Though they barely got over .500 overall at 18-16 for the 2020 season, the Lady Redskins were playing with a large group of true freshmen mixed with an all-star junior and a pair of solid seniors. That combination improved enough that the Little River spikers came within on match of being in the state tournament.

While Anna Birdsong and Bailey Hodgson have graduated, team leadership is now in the hands of all-league, all-state Lily Boughfman whom in her first two full seasons of varsity play has amassed well over 600 kills, 550 digs and 100 aces.

Lady Redskin head coach Kim Rolfs will build on the varsity experience in 2020 of now sophomores Ashley Stephenson, Aubrey Olander, Alaina Eck, Kate Ellwood and Mea DeBaere to mold the team into a possible state powerhouse by state tournament time.

Here is a full preview of the 2021 Little River Lady Redskin volleyball program:

THE LADY REDSKIN COACH:

Kim Rolfs

  • 2021 will be her 5th year
  • In 2020 led the Lady Redskins to an 18-16 record
  • Beat Pretty Prairie (ranked #3 in state) in the 2020 sub-state semi-finals
  • Lost to Pratt Skyline in 2020 Sub-State Finals

LADY REDSKINS LOST TO GRADUATION:

Anna Birdsong – Setter

Bailey Hodgson – Middle Hitter/Opposite Hitter

LADY REDSKINS RETURNING FOR 2021:

Lilly Boughfman – Senior 6’ 2” Outside/Middle Hitter

  • All Wheat State League, All-State
  • In 2 seasons has recorded 647 kills, 552 digs, 58 blocks and 117 aces

Mea DeBaere – Junior 5’ 5” Libero

  • Played as a freshman and sophomore
  • As a sophomore recorded 27 aces and 258 digs

Alaina Eck – Sophomore 5’ 6” Outside Hitter/Setter

  • Started and played big role as a freshman
  • As a freshman recorded 194 kills, 190 digs, 11 blocks and 31 aces

Kami Grasser – Sophomore 5’ 7” Outside Hitter

  • Played a role on varsity by the end of freshman season
  • As a freshman recorded 13 kills, 5 blocks and 12 aces

Kate Ellwood – Sophomore 5’ 6” Setter

  • Saw some significant time as a varsity setter
  • As a freshman recorded 50 digs

Ashley Stephenson – Sophomore 5’ 7” Middle Hitter

  • Saw some good varsity floor time as a freshman
  • As a freshman recorded 22 kills, 26 digs, 10 blocks and 6 aces

Aubrey Olander – Sophomore 6’ 0” Middle/Outside Hitter

  • Played a huge role on varsity as a freshman
  • As a freshman recorded 48 kills, 17 digs, 38 blocks and 1 ace

Cati Johnson – Junior 5’ 7” Setter

  • Had some varsity time and gave some key serves

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE 2021 LADY REDSKINS VOLLEYBALL TEAM:

The 2020 Little River volleyball team was very young with five freshman and two sophomores seeing plenty of varsity action.

Lily Boughfman returns after being named both All-League and All-State as a junior. Boughfman had recorded some high numbers in her first two seasons including well over 600 kills and 550 digs.

According to Coach Kim Rolfs, “Lily is going to be a huge key to our success in 2021. She’s looked the best I’ve seen her this summer and is very driven while stepping up in her leadership role not only physically but emotionally and verbally.”

The Lady Redskins will have an impressive supporting cast to surround Boughfman with, including sophomores Alaina Eck, Ashley Stephenson, Aubrey Olander, Kate Ellwood, and Mea DeBaere, all who played plenty of varsity as freshman in 2020. Each of the sophomores recorded some impressive stats in their first year of varsity play.

According to coach Rolfs, “I am excited to see this team continue to grow as we finished playing really well last season with some of the young kids in significant roles. This group is selfless, fun, and a team spirited group who wants nothing but to have the team succeed.”

The 2021 schedule will challenge the Lady Redskins enough to make them be one of the better teams by the end of the season.

Among the solid volleyball programs, they will face are Herington, Goessel, Rural Vista and all the teams Little River will face at the late season Lyons Invitational.

Coach Rolfs concluded her pre-season reflections by noting, “I anticipate our team to only get better as the season goes on and I am looking forward to coaching this 2021 Little River team!”

2021 LADY REDSKIN VARSITY SCHEDULE:

August 31 = Home Quad with Udall, Fairfield, & Larned), 4:00 pm

September 7 = Dual at Canton/Galva, 5:00 pm

September 11 = At Centre Invitational, 9:00 am

September 14 = Home Modified Quad with Canton/Galva, Goessel & Elyria, 5:00 pm

September 21 = Quad at Wakefield with Solomon, Canton/Galva, & Wakefield, 5:00 pm

September 23 = Home Dual with Ellsworth, 5:00 pm

September 25 = At Lyons Invitational, 9:00 am

September 28 = At Canton/Galva Quad with Centre, Peabody/Burns, & Canton/Galva, 5:00 pm

October 2 = At Canton/Galva Invitational, 9:00 am

October 5 = At Herington Quad with Herington, Canton/Galva, & Rural Vista, 5:00 pm

October 12 = Home Quad with Goessel, Sacred Heart, & Wichita Central Christian, 5:00 pm

October 16 = Wheat State League Tournament at Centre, 9:00 am

October 23 = Sub-State, TBA

October 30 = State Championships

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