This year’s De Soto high school volleyball program has seen major leadership changes not only with the return of head coach Lindsay Hothan, but also with Jackie Kennard being the only senior on the team.

Kennard has been a part of the varsity volleyball squad for three years now and has experienced firsthand what an upperclassman leader needs to do to support her team.

“I remember how much I looked up to the seniors my first year on varsity, so I’m trying to be that positive role model for the younger girls on the team,” Kennard said. “Being the only senior, sometimes I’m going to be the only one for the rest of the team to look up to. I can never have a negative attitude because it would affect everyone on the court.”

So far a negative attitude is not something the team has to worry about with their above average team chemistry.

“The team works really hard every day, and there’s good chemistry amongst us all. Most of the girls have experience and are returning varsity players, so I think if we keep up the hard work we’ve put in the last few weeks, we will be amazing,” Kennard said.

The team is off to a great start after their first tournament, going 5-0 and winning against Louisburg High School. Beating Louisburg is very substantial because that was the first time the varsity team has been able to beat Louisburg for several years. With this kind of progress, the young team, with the help of their upperclassmen leader, is hopeful to finally take the league champion title away from Louisburg.

“Beating Louisburg felt great. I remember being a sophomore and that was all [that] the upperclassmen wanted. I’m excited because this can be the year that we take league champs from them,” Kennard said.

Not only does Kennard think the team chemistry will help the players succeed, she also realizes that Hothan coming back from her year-long break will push the team towards greatness.

“Hothan brings a special intensity to the court, and I think that’s what fires the rest of us girls up. I feel like she motivates us and makes us want to work harder each day. I’m really glad she’s back for my senior year,” Kennard said.

With Hothan and Kennard back, the Wildcats look to grab a league title and return to State—a feat they barely missed in the 2015 season.