2025 Fall Preview: Kickapoo Volleyball

By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Kickapoo volleyball struggled a bit in 2024.

The Chiefs posted a 15-17 record, falling to Republic in the Class 5 District 6 tournament.

Long time head coach Marci Adams viewed the season as an opportunity to build team chemistry, develop skills and plan for the future.

“We knew we had a lot of new faces on the team, but we deliberately kept a competitive schedule and embraced every challenge that came our way,” Adams said. “We focused on building team chemistry across different ages and skill levels, while steadily gaining experience. This group was especially committed to learning and improving from every win and loss, all while making sure to keep the experience fun and positive.”

A quintet of talented returnees will lead Kickapoo on the court this season, including Abby Ferguson, Molly Doening, Chloe Sargent, Brittan Smith and Mila Asay.

Ferguson, a senior, will play middle blocker this season.

“Abby finished just a few blocks behind our team leader and continues to be a key contributor on both sides of the ball,” Adams said. “She takes great pride in her role, bringing physicality at the net and a strong presence on offense and defense. Over the summer, she’s put in the work to build strong connections with our setters, which has really elevated her game.”

Downing, a junior outside hitter, recorded over 100 kills in her first year playing varsity.

“Molly played on the right side last season,” Adams said. “This season, we expect her to take on a larger offensive role, potentially contributing both on the outside and right side. She’s also made big strides in her defensive play and serve receive, making her a reliable option out of the back row.”

Sargent, a junior middle blocker, finished last season with over 50 blocks and 140 kills.

“Chloe has a quick arm swing and consistently generates positive block touches, which help create favorable defensive opportunities for our team,” Adams said. “With her athleticism and continued growth, Chloe has the potential to become a dominant presence at the net on both offense and defense.”

Smith, a sophomore libero, led the team with nearly 400 digs as a freshman.

“Brittan moved into the libero position after the first couple weeks of season,” Adams said. “As a freshman she was reliable on serve receive and got better every match. The work she put in in the offseason mixed with a year of experience on varsity will prove to be a good recipe for a great sophomore season.”

Asay, a sophomore outside hitter, finished third on the team in kills.

“Mila took a lot of gutsy swings as a freshman and refuses to be labeled as ‘undersized,’” Adams said. “She works really hard on her physicality and athleticism. We’ll look to her to take a lot of swings on the outside and contribute in the back row as well. This kid plays with a lot of fire that’s evident in her energy and presence on the court.”

Adams also expects several varsity newcomers to step in and make an impact this season, including sophomore Paisley Eaton.

“Paisley has taken on the primary setting role throughout the summer and is a strong candidate to run a 5-1 offense this season,” Adams said. “She likely would have seen more varsity time last year if she hadn’t been playing behind a Division I-level setter. Paisley brings excellent defensive coverage, a strong serve and a team-first mindset to the setter position. I expect her to adjust to varsity play quickly and make an immediate impact.”

Sophomore, Addyson Kineman, senior Kaydin Burch and junior Adi Bratcher will also compete for varsity playing time this season.

“While our team is still young, we’ve gained valuable experience over the past year that will serve us well this season,” Adams said. “You can expect to see a rotation that is eager, adaptable, and continually improving. Our players are developing confidence and chemistry, which will translate into more consistent and dynamic play on the court.”

Adams believes her team has the right mix of experience and resilience to keep the Chiefs competitive on a nightly basis throughout the season.

“Our team’s biggest strength heading into the season is our blend of experience and resilience, combined with a commitment to growth and competitiveness,” Adams said. “Despite being young, many players gained valuable varsity experience last year and have worked hard over the offseason to improve both physically and mentally. The way we learn from every situation, stay focused on fundamentals, and support one another will be key to our success this season.”

Following an Aug. 26 home jamboree, Kickapoo opens its season Aug. 30 in the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational.