By Isaac Bourne, Sports Editor
Following what many would call a Cinderella run in the Great American Conference (GAC) volleyball tournament in Hot Springs last season that saw the Ouachita Tigers claim their first NCAA tournament berth in school history, the squad returns to campus this season determined to prove that the slipper fits by taking the crown for themselves. “I think for me, we’re really excited, but also we still have something to prove,” said senior right side Emily Adams. “Last year in the regular season, we came into the tournament fifth, so we want to prove that we didn’t just get hot and win a couple games at the end to win the tournament.”
The Tigers enter the season ranked first in the Great American Conference after returning all but one player from last season with Avery Jauz graduating in the Spring. The libero position looks to be in good hands, though, with a three-way battle between juniors Kylie Kisgen and Ann Marie Tice along with freshman Delaney Gonzalez to make head coach Allison Frizzell-Kizer’s decisions much harder when it comes to lineups this season. Senior defensive specialist Peyton Church returns with an expanded role as well in an already competitive lineup. “I’m excited to see who wins that spot, and because we always tell them you can be happy in your role, but you don’t have to be content in it,” said Frizzell-Kizer. We make sure they know the difference…I think it’s going to be a battle.”
On the offensive side of the ball, it’s looking like much of the same with some enticing additions added to the mix. Adams, named All-GAC second team last season, rejoins a cast alongside junior All-GAC Honorable Mention middle blocker Leah Gardner, senior GAC All-Tournament outside hitter Riley Braziel, junior outside hitter/opposite hitter Kailey Thedford, and senior middle blocker Haley Fairchild as the main returning contributors to the front row.
At the setter position, Courtney Hanson makes a try at history this season, just 1,321 assists away from the program all-time assist record set by Stormi Leonard in 2018. “As she’s gotten older and more experienced, she likes to kind of try some new things here or there, but I think she’s just done a really good job of leading the offense, and she plays defense on top of that, because I say my setters have to play defense, and she does do that,” said Frizzell-Kizer. “I’m looking forward to her senior year for sure, potentially creating some more records and leaving her own legacy.”
Hanson has been a longtime starter with the team, and alongside Braziel, Adams and Fairchild, the four have been mainstays in the lineup since their freshman seasons, now looking to bring that experience into a dominant final campaign. “It’s really special,” said Braziel. “With our class, four of us started our freshman year, so being able to play together for the past four years, it really strengthens your bonds as teammates, and then bringing all the underclassmen in with that too, so it’s really special to finally be at the last year.”
The Tigers begin their season on the road, traveling to Tyler, Texas, to play in the UT-Tyler Patriot classic, which will cap off with a finale against Central Oklahoma Lady Bronchos, who finished second in the Central region last year, providing the Tigers an early challenge to help improve their at-large odds later in the season. With a raised bar and an experienced roster, the Tigers look to establish their reign as annual contenders in the GAC.
