by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington girls volleyball team will embark on another season at 8 a.m. Saturday when it travels to Winfield for its season opening tournament.

It could be a big year for the program.

“I’m super excited about this team,” said Cherity Elder, Wellington girls volleyball head coach. “They have a lot of experience, they read the ball well, and they are coachable.”

Wellington is young with experience – which is a coaches dream. Elder has four returning starters and eight returning varsity lettermen. Yet of the 11 varsity girls, seven of them are freshmen and sophomores.

“All but two of them played a lot over the summer,” Elder said.

The only thing this volleyball team doesn’t have is juniors. There are four seniors: Micha Rogers, Shelby Hamel, Avery Lewellen and Brianna Mullen.

The returning starters include McKenna Oathout, Siarah Walker, Micah Rogers and Abby Goodrum.

Oathout will be the returning setter. Walker, Rogers and Goodrum return as middle hitters.

There are two freshman, who could factor into the starting lineup: Erin Goodrum and Tayland French.

“We will be changing the lineup quite often finding which girl fits best at what position,” Elder said. “We have a lot of talent and some might be on the bench who would have been starting in years past. It’s a good problem to have.”

Wellington has three home meets this season, up from the customary two. The first home match is Tuesday, Sept. 10 against Augusta and McPherson.

“We were very competitive last year,” Elder said. “I can’t tell you how many matches we lost by one or two points.

“But this year we are about winning.”

Varsity members of the Wellington Crusader team.