The excitement is present for North Callaway volleyball, and the team hopes the results will continue to follow.

North Callaway, Centralia in Hallsville Photo Gallery

Head coach Andrew Klein said the Ladybirds have had about 20 players at each optional practice that starts at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer. That isn’t all for North Callaway volleyball, though, as the Ladybirds have been earning results to build on their 12-17-1 record a season ago — the most wins in program history.

“In the two years prior, I think we graduated only four seniors total,” Klein said. “I have a lot of the same girls so I’m really looking for them to be leaders. They know what I’m about, and they could be my voice on the floor now that they know me and now that we’ve been around for a while.”

North Callaway has four seniors this season — Riley Blevins, Adrian Brown, Hayley Rothermich and Ainsley Marx — and Klein said they’ve all been helpful in keeping the team strong as a unit.

The Ladybirds have banded together when playing at two league nights hosted at Hallsville, including one on June 29. That particular night saw them lose to Centralia and Hallsville — a district title matchup from a year ago — but North Callaway has thrived against competition from other states. Klein said the Ladybirds finished 4-2 in a Cape Girardeau tournament, losing in the championship game.

“We have a lot of upcoming juniors and seniors,” Klein said. “They’re going to get some playing time, and we’re going to take that next step.”