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New McDonald County High School volleyball coach Meghan Thomp- son says the 2017 Lady Mustangs are a talented group and thinks they will be able to contend for conference and district championships. "It's really been going great," Thomp- son said. "We have a good group back and quite a few new players including several freshmen who will play key roles this year. We have lots of talent and lots of drive. The girls get along and like the game." Leading those back are four return- ing starters. Hollie Garvin is the lone returning full-time starter, while Ember Killion, Nicole Salas and Mattie Leach were part-time starters. Joining the above as a returning letterman is Raye Pearcy. Thompson said she is switching the offense from a 5-1 (one setter) to a 4-2 (two setters). "Madison Hall is returning after taking two years off and will be a key setter," Thompson said. "It's the same thing with Mattie Leach. Those two together are pretty strong. We have some dynamic passers in the back row. Raye Pearcy is going to play a pretty big role along with Hollie Garvin. Kayce Factor is a freshman and will play a big role. All three of those girls have strong serves and are strong pass- ers. We will have a pretty good back row." Salas will be joined by Emily Landers and Kailana Pa as middle hitters with Karla Barreda and Katelyn Ferdig on the outside. "Our three middle hitters are prob- ably going to rotate around to help us on blocking some so you will see them playing multiple positions," Thompson said. "Kailana is a sophomore who has really developed into a strong player. She puts a block like I have never seen before. She gets her whole arm above the net. She really gets up there. " Ferdig is just a freshman while Barreda is a senior. "Those two are pretty strong when they are on the outside," Thompson said. "They are hard to stop. They 6C McDonald County Press Thursday, August 24, 2017 F a l l S p o r t S p r e v i e w Volleyball Team Aiming For Titles By Rick Peck Special to McDonald County Press NAME GRADE NUMBER Caitlyn Barton 9 24 Kaycee Factor 9 16 Katelyn Ferdig 9 2 Sydney Killion 9 7 Kelli Brennand 10 15 Ember Killion 10 6 Kialana Pa 10 4 NAME GRADE NUMBER Brianna Renner 10 20 Kaitlyn Sammons 10 32 Adyson Sanny 10 28 Emily Landers 11 34 Mattie Leach 11 25 Emily Porter 11 5 Helen Reyes 11 26 NAME GRADE NUMBER Nikki Salas 11 3 Zoe Vallance 11 10 Karla Barreda 12 14 Hollie Garvin 12 27 Madison Hall 12 21 Raye Pearcy 12 9 Megan Wofford 12 18 PHOTO BY RICK PECK The 2017 McDonald County Lady Mustangs volleyball team. Front row, left to right: Brianna Renner, Raye Pearcy, Hollie Garvin, Emily Porter, Kaycee Factor and Katelyn Ferdig. Middle row: Kaitlyn Sammons, Caitlyn Barton, Helen Reyes, Adyson Sanny, Ember Killion and Kelli Brennand. Back row: Madison Hall, Mattie Leach, Nicole Salas, Karla Barreda, Emily Landers, Kailana Pa, Zoe Vallance and Megan Wofford. 2017 Lady Mustangs Varsity/ Junior Varsity VoLLeybaLL roster SEE VOLLEYBALL PAGE 7C