MOBILE, Ala. – As the Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team prepares for the 2021 season, Head Coach Peggy Martin is frank about her uncertainties. The Badgers opted out of the 2020-21 seasons due to the Novel Coronavirus Global Pandemic and have since lost eight quality players from the 2019 season, leaving many openings in the lineup.

"Everything is a big question mark," says Martin. "But we have had great competition at every position and look forward to seeing how it all plays out. Our defense is way ahead of our offense, as you expect when replacing a senior setter [Emmarose Neibert]. Four setters are competing for our starting position, Jessica Fairly, Courtney Faulkner, Grace Harris, and Payton Nicoud. Harris has the most collegiate experience, having transferred from West Alabama. It is a luxury to have four setters, but the lack of experience in running our offense is challenging."

At the heart of the Badger front line, Martin has no doubts about her line up. "Offensively, [SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year] Kassandra Fairly will carry a big load, but we have some inexperienced youngsters that are contributing in practice. On the outside, Brooke Borgmeyer and Emily Weinzapfel have stepped up as first-year players. Returning graduate student Allison Weimer has been playing all three front row spots and eventually will settle in at one. In the middle, redshirt freshman Olivia Peyton and true freshman Airyonna Weaver are battling for the spot opposite Kassandra. Our right side/opposite is suddenly up for grabs, as Linnea Beger has been recovering from an injury all preseason. Anna Marie Stevens is transitioning to the outside in her redshirt year and unfortunately, Lily Mascari is rehabbing an injury, so we hope to have her back for Beach season."

Badger fans can look forward to a solid defensive unit in the coming season. According to Martin, "We are very comfortable with our back court defense anchored by Mikayla Boyer who will also hit outside, and [2021 SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year] libero Taylor Fontenelle, who are both veterans with a year's experience on the court. Kristen Mitternight is a 'baller' in the backcourt and brings relentless effort every day. Calina Corthell is a talented athlete that we are counting on to become more consistent in all phases of the game."

Looking at the SHC roster, its youth is apparent. There are nine redshirt freshmen, two true freshmen and six redshirt sophomores along with only five returning letter winners. "We have freshmen everywhere," Martin admits. "They will need to step up quickly and adjust to a much faster collegiate game. Normally youth would concern me, but actually I am thrilled with the talent we have in our underclassmen and I am confident they will make the adjustment. It helps that we have great upper class leadership even if their numbers are small."

Martin refers to several examples of younger players who are stepping up to the challenge. "Weaver is extremely athletic and can help us out immediately at almost any position. Our lack of depth in the middle will likely require her skills there this year while [fellow true freshman] Cassidy Granger, a middle in high school, may transition to the right side as well as play the middle. Redshirt freshmen Weinzapfel and Borgmeyer along with sophomore Kyla Shappell will see time outside."

Ultimately, Martin knows that the fate of this team lies with its upperclassmen. "We only have two upperclassmen with more than one year on the court in graduate student Weimer and red shirt senior Fairly," she says. "They both are leaders on the court and Fairly is involved as our 'Team Mom,' taking care of everything that mom's do! Hailee Richard, our other senior academically, is currently battling an injury, and while she does not have much court experience, she has been invaluable help to her coaches and teammates."

Overall, Martin approves of the direction her Badgers are headed despite some early setbacks. "We have faced some preseason adversity with several players out with injuries," she says. "But we are very pleased with the depth of this team, as well as the versatility to switch positions. The work ethic has been great and we are excited to be back on the court with this group."

The 2021 season gets underway on Friday, September 3, in Pensacola, Fla. at the University of West Florida (UWF) Invitational and the Badgers start the year against tough competition. "We will face four teams that are all receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll and that's just the challenge our youthful team needs at this point. We will need to grow up quickly to be competitive, but we are very confident in this group."

SHC plays the Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU) Sailfish (18-13 in 2019) at 9 a.m. and the hosting UWF Argonauts (26-9 2019) at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 3 in the UWF Field House.