Richards prepared for district

Richards High School volleyball coach Caitlyn Kirkpatrick was confident as the team began district play last week.

The team entered Friday’s match against district foe Snook with a 4-4 record after dropping its Sept. 10 match to KOR Education School. “We’re going into it pretty strong,” the first-year coach said.

She was encouraged despite the loss to KOR, which she described as “one of those nail-biters” because the points went back and forth.

“Not as many good hits this time,” she said about the match. “A lot of our sets weren’t quite there. The girls were having a difficult time timing it.”

Senior libero Brynn Hoffpauir led in digs against KOR. Senior Kayla McClellan led in kills, with Kirkpatrick noting, “She had some really good hits.”

Kirkpatrick also is optimistic because several girls are capable of playing multiple positions well. One of them is freshman Elizabeth Holtey, who played for the junior high squad.

Holtey has played right side hitter and was in the back row against KOR. “She’s also been up at the net,” Kirkpatrick said. “She’s got some good potential as far as helping our blocks.”

Another effective in multiple roles is middle hitter Emme Loman, who the coach called a “strong blocker.” The junior has been the leading setter.