Wildcat fall sports have started for the 2012 year. For the volleyball team, the season started on Aug. 25 with the Frontier League Tournament in Eudora.

The Wildcats finished fourth in the opening tournament.

Girls have high expectations for this season, because of last years success.

“Our focus is to just improve and compete everyday. Winning league would be great, but we have to do the little things first,” head coach Lindsay Hothan said.

The team graduated four athletes, including three who are playing collegiate volleyball this year.

Hothan said that the girls showed improvement against Ottawa on Sept. 11, since a rough start at the beginning of the season.

“Our match against Ottawa really showed our improvement throughout the course of our season so far,” Hothan said. “Our defense has really improved tremendously, as well as our connection with our setter and hitters.”

The volleyball team has many goals for the season and including, mini goals for everyday.

“Our every day goals are: Compete, consistency and focus. Our bigger goals are to win league, win a tournament, and win Sub-State,” Hothan said.

After the start of the season as 3-6, the girls have improved their record to 13-10, with multiple games left.

“I just want the girls to focus on ourselves. We are our own opponents,” Hothan said.

On Sept. 15, they played in Rossville for another tournament. The team went 2-2 in the tournament.

“This season has been really good, and I’m really excited to compete in the rest of the games. Our defense is really good, our setters are really good.” Senior Jeannett Calmpitt said.

The De Soto High School volleyball team will host the annual Dig Pink game on Oct. 4, where they play Mill Valley High School. The money raised will go towards Breast Cancer research.