BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick/Mt. Ararat High School volleyball team enters its third season as a varsity program, and the future looks bright.

After finishing 0-14 in the first year, the Dragons, who also draw athletes from Mt. Ararat, went 6-8, winning their first match and qualifying for the Class A tournament. A 3-0 loss to Bonny Eagle in the prelims ended their season.

“We are looking to continue to progress as a program. Going from 0-14 to 6-8 was certainly a big improvement, and one that we are so proud of,” head coach Kaili Philips said. “But we are planning to build on to that for this season.”

After seeing senior leaders Mackenzie Burrows and Morgan Johnson graduate, Philips has watched her team gel together early this year and expects her underclassmen to step up.

“The group this year seems more confident and is very coachable,” Phillips said. “They look like they have played together for much longer than one week.”

Seniors Emma Dorr, Baylei Coombs and Calla Hladky are the only players who have been with the program since the beginning and will be looked at to provide leadership to the squad.

Junior Kathleen Trapp will move from the outside to the right side as Phillips feels she will “continue to be a consistent player and continues to work hard to improve.”

Mt. Ararat junior Kassidy Dixon and Brunswick sophomore Chloe Coombs will make the jump from the jayvee team and will both likely see substantial playing time on varsity this year.

A couple of new student-athletes, Lauren Whitlock (Brunswick, junior) and Naomi Martin (Mt. Ararat, sophomore) join this team. Whitlock brings several years of club playing experience and passion to the team, along with Martin, who is new to the Midcoast.

While Phillips’ graduating seniors left a hole in the middle, Dixon and junior Sabrina Cooper, along with newcomer sophomore Jaden Lohr (MtA) will all contend for those positions.

The Dragons recently had the opportunity to play in a preseason play day and were able to try out some different lineups and players in different positions.

“We also got to see what other programs are bringing to the table this year,” Phillips said. “It is really great how the quality of volleyball is just getting better and better in the state. There is some really good volleyball being played by a lot of teams, which is so exciting.”

Phillips adds that her team is excited and ready to compete this year.

“We’re excited that so many girls at both Brunswick and Mt. Ararat high schools are starting to consider volleyball as an option and that we can’t wait for the season to begin.”