This year’s senior Volleyball class was not the typical size of many other 5A schools. However, that didn’t stop them from trying to become culture changers by leaving an impact on and off the court. 

Seniors Josie Theilen and Kenzie Bristow have been solid for the Volleyball program throughout their careers. They’ve watched as their class size slowly shrunk over the years to the point where there were only four on varsity their senior year, with the other two being seniors Sydney Smalley and Lauren Fedders. 

While this may seem like a problem, the two seniors didn’t see it as one. Josie Theilen viewed the small group size positively: “It helps us work together, and we’re also very different, personality-wise. So we can get specific players to have a positive attitude with different tactics.” Theilen also credited various positions within the group, “We play in different spots all over the court so it helps us relate to everybody.”

Getting Young Players Involved

Typically in a high school Volleyball team, the starting lineup is senior-heavy, but that wasn’t the case for the Little Cyclones this year. 

“Our goal was to make sure everyone was included this year because the past few years–and all of us seniors can agree on this–the team has been very separated into friend groups,” said Kenzie Bristow, “We wanted to make sure everybody felt included, and everybody is best friends with everybody.” 

Many of the younger players are involved with club organizations outside of the high school, Bristow believes that the work the younger players have been putting in outside of the season has much to do with their success and the promise this team has. 

“I think all of our juniors this year, like our front row, is very aggressive–and over club seasons and the offseason, they just keep getting better every year,” Bristow said, “And our offense is very prepared for next year and if anything  it’s not going to change that much so it’s going to get better.”

The senior leaders wanted to prioritize team camaraderie to promote aggressiveness out of the young front row, “Because of the bonds and the friendships the team has we get more aggressive and we become more united because of it,” Bristow added.

Hoping to Grow the Sport at Ames High

While many have the view of Volleyball being a pretty big sport at the school, many players on the team view that as a common misconception due to the large student turnout at games. 

“When we’re playing games it is awesome to see a large student section because it hypes you up and it’s exciting to play in front of people,” Bristow said, “We definitely feel the support because of the students and staff wanting to stay updated on how we’re doing.”

Theilen adds, “It’s motivating to have all that support when we’re playing at home having so many people cheering us on, but—in terms of resources–we don’t have it like Football or Basketball do.”

The seniors feel that they already have ambitious goals for the team such as wanting to win the conference and make a state tournament appearance, they’re confident that accomplishing those goals would promote tremendous growth in the program.

“It would be freaking awesome [to make the state tournament] and even if we made it and didn’t go far, just making it would be a huge deal. I think it would kind of set standards for the next few seasons coming up. It would kind of boost our confidence and maybe start us off stronger the next year,” said Bristow.

Theilen thinks that involvement with both the school and club programs would go a long way toward boosting the progress of the team. Many of the good players already on the team have had experience at club level and offseason school levels, “Some of the middle school and younger only play club. They don’t come and play for the school. And if they did come to play for the school while they were still young we would have a team like that could grow up and develop together.” 

“Our senior class this year did, and it helped us out a lot and I think that would really benefit us and make us a bigger program.”

Who’s Next Up? 

Theilen and Bristow were both crucial parts of the team this season with Theilen leading the team in digs and Bristow leading the team in assists. The pair of seniors were also among some of the best servers on the team, having the best serving success rates on the team.

Now, as to who is going to fill those spots and step up next year? 

They’re not worried and as Bristow said earlier, “It’s going to get better.”

“Salina [Schaper] is an amazing center. I also think Avery Rouse is an amazing center. She’s very hard-working, and she’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. And then we have like Claire [Kenny], who’s just a freshman this year, and by her senior year, she is going to be phenomenal.” 

“I think all of our juniors this year especially the ones in the front row [will have success in the future]. Natalya [Deardorff] is probably going to be our Libero next year.”

Defense has been Bristow’s only concern for the next year with the senior group all having defensive impacts, but Theilen had some names to point out.

“Lizzie Greenfield is one to watch, very she’s athletic, and she’s played her whole life. She plays all around right now as a junior, she played all around as a sophomore, and she’s a natural leader, and she has to be because she’s always on the court.” 

“So, I think she has a lot of potential not just to continue improving but to help bring others up.”

“I think that Morgan [Stagg] has a lot of potential,” Theilen added, “And I’d say Avery [Rouse] she doesn’t play a lot yet, but she is definitely our best teammate. She cheers everyone on and is such a good leader that having her on the court would just be amazing for the team.”

Hoping to Keep a Selfless Culture

The senior pair were hoping to leave behind a productive and positive culture. They had noted that in past years the team hadn’t been as tight of a group so they hoped they could change the culture. 

“Playing with Sydney [Smalley] and Kenzie has changed how I look at Volleyball, it has never been my main sport and I never really loved it until I played with them,” Theilen said, “I don’t play for myself I play for my friends and my teammates, that kept me wanting to play.”

Although the Volleyball team recently lost their sub-state bout versus Valley and while it was a heartbreaking loss, the seniors are confident that as long as the team can keep this unified culture, they can do anything they put their minds to.

“Our team is going to be prepared for next year like I’ve said it’s going to get better,” Bristow said, “Our goal this year was to have everyone be friends and I just hope that they keep that same approach going into next year.”

“The key to the team is friendship and just wanting to play for each other and as long as they stay motivated and together they’re going to be okay.”