Seniors leading the Lady Longhorn volleyball team this season include, from left, Mallie McNair, Ashley Bubak and Sophie Spady. (Johnson Publications photo)
Transition going smoothly for new head volleyball coach
Chase County has a new Lady Longhorn volleyball coach at the helm this year, and the transition is going well, she reports.
Sam Kennedy is serving in that role this season, and while admitting it’s been a bit “crazy,” added that’s it’s been a good transition and the assistant coaches are helping out a lot.
Kennedy, who was an assistant Chase County coach last year, replaces long-time head coach Jodie Schuller, who is now teaching and is head volleyball coach at Alma Public Schools.
The Lady Longhorns open their season tonight (Thursday) in Ogallala against a Lady Indians team they haven’t faced in the regular season for several years.
Both in Class C-1, Chase County has faced Ogallala in the post-season most years, but the two schools have not met during the regular season for awhile.
There will also be a new head coach on Ogallala’s side of the court after the retirement of Steve Morgan last year. Ogallala’s new head coach is Shelly Byrn, who taught and coached at North Platte St. Pat’s last year.
“It will be an exciting first match,” Kennedy said. “It’ll be nice to see what they have before subs.”
Kennedy said Thursday’s varsity match opener will be a big game for both teams. JVs kick of the night at 6 p.m., followed by varsity.
Also coming up in the first week of play is the McCook/Minden triangular on Tuesday.
This year’s JV/V triangular will be played at two sites in McCook. Matches start at 4 p.m. MT, with varsity at McCook Community College and JV matches at the high school.
Haxtun, Colorado has been the Lady Longhorns’ season opener the past several years, but neither Haxtun nor Kimball are on the 2019-20 schedule for individual matches. However, a new triangular with those two teams has been added and will be played at Chase County Oct. 15.
Chase County’s home opener is Sept. 10 against Yuma, Colorado.
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