Monterey Team Previews Volleyball Season

The Monterey High volleyball team is just over a week away from their first regular season game and after going winless in 2023, the Wildcats are ready to re-brand themselves this year.

First year head coach Todd Daugherty said the off-season has been great and every player, parent and administrator have made him feel welcomed. He explained that there is no pressure from the outside because no one expects anything from a Monterey volleyball team that went winless last year, but he is applying pressure himself.

“But, internally there is a good bit of pressure, I’m putting that pressure on myself deliberately ,” Daugherty said. “Because it keeps me motivated, it keeps me working. I’m going to do everything I can to give the large number of seniors we have on this team a great last season because they deserve it.”

One of those seniors is co-captain and libero, Riley McCoy who said this year the team feels more prepared for the season ahead due to Daugherty’s coaching. She also said the team has goals beyond their district this season, they want a state title.

“I’m just ready, especially for senior year,” McCoy said. “I’m hoping for an amazing year and I hope we go far, hopefully to state this year, that’s one of our goals. And, I think we can definitely accomplish that goal.”

Fellow co-captain and senior Galy Hernandez said she was humbled by going winless last season and looked at the experience as a learning opportunity.

The Wildcat’s spent the off-season bolstering areas of weakness and Daugherty said he is most excited to see his team on offense.

“I really think we’ve bulked up in a lot of ways and in a lot of elements of our game,” Daugherty said. “I particularly really like our offense. No shade thrown to Riley our libero in here, but our offense is clicking. We have a lot of fun stuff down the pipeline for our opponents.”

This year’s team will rely on sophomore setter Jalee Johnson to be the offensive initiator. Daugherty said the team’s offensive success will be dependent on Johnson and her health, she’s currently sidelined with a thumb injury.

“She has exceeded my expectations as our setter, she runs that offense so well” Daugherty said. “A large portion of why our offense is so fun to watch is because of her and the way she sets up her players. She’s also just a dynamite person. Her goal as a player, and she has said this to me, her goal as a player is to set up her teammates to get kills.”

The Monterey Wildcats season starts August 20 at home against Clarkrange at 5 P.M.