The Jackson Lady Indian Volleyball Team is off to a good start to the 1996 season, even though they are a young team prone to make mistakes.

Coach Nancy Ellis is in her first year as head coach. She moved up to the position from assistant coach last year. Ellis also spent time as the head tennis coach, but she has played volleyball all of her life.

"We hope to end the season with at least a .500 record, but more importantly I hope they play good ball and build confidence for the years to come," Ellis said.

Ellis added she hopes the team realizes their full potential and to do that she is working on their mental game because the skills are there.

"Our team is young and we make a lot of mistakes. I'm hoping that they come around and play smart volleyball," Ellis said.

The Lady Indians are (???) so far this season. As for the future of Jackson volleyball, Ellis said it looks very promising.

"There is a lot of talent on our JV team and our freshman team," Ellis said.

But the future is also playing on the varsity team. With only two seniors on this year's squad, Jackson looks to contend for sometime into the future.

Millie Yates and Cindy Wachter are the only two seniors on this year's squad.

Yates is a starting senior. She was changed from a setter to a defensive player and outside hitter.

"She's come a long way in her leadership ability. She is one of our best all around players," Ellis said.

Wachter is a defensive specialist and this is her fourth year on the team.

"She's a very good motivator," Ellis said.

Becky King is a junior. This is her first year on the varsity team. She is a middle hitter.

"Her blocking skills are coming along. She's becoming a lot more aggressive," Ellis said.

Mandy Brunke, another junior, is the starting setter. Ellis said she has nice hands and she is working to improve her deception of her sets.

"She's worked hard to get to where she's at. She is the team captain," Ellis said.

Valerie Jansen is a junior setter and hitter. Ellis said that she is a very versatile player and she is very good defensively.

"But we need her in a setting role. She is very good all around," Ellis said.

Jackson has had a hard time keeping Becky Stoverink, junior, healthy this year, but she is a very good overall player. She is an outside hitter.

"She probably has had the most service aces of anyone this year," Ellis said.

Bridget Tracy, junior, is a defensive player for the Lady Indians. She has a lot of potential in the back row for coach Ellis.

"She's worked very hard. She's one of our best defensive players," Ellis added.

Jamie Heitz, a sophomore, has really come on for the Lady Indians in the past couple of weeks.

She has been playing off-hand and she has moved to the on-hand hitter.

"She's young and makes some mistakes, but she's becoming very consistent," Ellis said.

Chrissi Glastetter, sophomore, is in her second year on the varsity team. She is a very good all around player. She is a middle hitter and also plays center back.

"She's so developed in her skills, she's a true athlete," Ellis said.

Diane Mirly, sophomore, is seeing more and more varsity play. She'll probably see more defensive play because of her passing skills, Ellis said.

Jennifer Ellis, sophomore, is the team's utility player. She can set, hit and play defense. She's an important part of the Lady Indians team, if someone is having a bad night she goes in for them.

"She's going to be an incredible volleyball player," Ellis said.

Jackson will play Oak Ridge on Sept. 23 at home at 6 p.m. Tuesday they play at Sikeston at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday the Lady Indians travel to Meadow Heights for a 6 p.m. match.

Jackson Lady Indian Volleyball Varsity Roster

No. NAME YEAR HEIGHT POSITION

4 Cindy Wachter 12 5'2" D

11 Millie Yates 12 5'6" OH

1 Mandy Brunke 11 5'6" S

13 Valerie Jansen 11 5'8" OH/S

21 Becky King 11 6'1" MB

15 Bridget Tracy 11 5'4" D

24 Becky Stoverink 11 5'9" OH

20 Jennifer Ellis 10 5'3" S/OH

12 Chrissi Glastetter10 5'10" MB

23 Jamie Heitz 10 5'8" OH

5 Diane Mirly 10 5'6" OH

Jackson Lady Indians Volleyball Schedule

Date Score

Sept. 3 Jackson at 3 15 15

St. Vincent's 15 10 13

Sept. 5 Caruthersville at 8 7

Jackson 15 15

Sept. 10-11 SEMO Conference Tournament

Round One

Jackson vs. 15 15

Chaffee 2 6

Round Two

Jackson vs. 17 12 15

Poplar Bluff 15 15 9

Championship Game

Jackson vs. 15 10 6

Sikeston 3 15 15

Sept. 12 Cape Central at 8 8

Jackson 15 15

Sept. 14 North County Tournament

Jackson vs. 11 9

North County 15 15

Jackson vs. 15 15

St. Vincent 3 7

Jackson vs. 15 15

Potosi 4 10

Jackson vs. 8 13

Perryville 15 15

Sept. 19 Jackson at

Woodland

Sept. 20-21 Southeast Missouri State

University Tournament

Scores and match ups unavailable at press time.

Sept. 23 Oak Ridge at Jackson 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 Jackson at Sikeston 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 Jackson at Meadow Heights 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 Notre Dame at Jackson 6 p.m.

Oct. 5 Jackson JV Tournament TBA

Oct. 10 Jackson at Leopold 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Sikeston JV Quad Tournament 11 a.m.

Oct. 14 Jackson at Fredericktown 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 Jackson at New Madrid 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 Perryville at Jackson 5 p.m.

Oct. 22 Chaffee at Jackson 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 Jackson at Scott City 6:30 p.m.