Frazier aims for 12th straight section crown

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

We’re at 11 straight section championships and counting for the Frazier Commodores volleyball team.

But this year, the cast is much different for Mandy Hartman’s team.

Gone are Skye Eicher, Logan Hartman, Gabrielle Alekson, Kathryn Barch and Sierra Twigg, among others.

With only four starters returning, the Commodores have gone from cruise control to a slight rebuild.

“Are these girls going to fill the shoes of those girls we lost? No. It’s not a reasonable expectation,” Hartman said. “I’ve just kind of been a figurehead the past few years, those girls were that good. Now, getting a chance to build with a young group of girls with raw talent and seeing it develop. That’s why I love coaching.”

Leadership that was so prominent in last year’s squad isn’t there this year. But the group of “stabilizers” Hartman depended on last season will have to step up to be the superstars this year. 

“I look for them to do great things,” Hartman said. “They all understand what we lost from last year’s team without us saying it. But you ask them who the favorite is in the section, there’s no doubt they’re going to say we are.”

Frazier’s next group of superstars will include senior setter and outside-hitter Alexis Lovis, senior middle- and outside-hitter Kaelyn Shaporka, senior libero Jordin Brundege and sophomore outside-hitter and setter Jensyn Hartman.

“Jensyn and Kaelyn are going to be our go-to hitters,” the long-time coach said. “If you have two scorers that can consistently score points, you should win a lot of matches. We’re going to rely on them a lot more than we did last year.

“Jensyn has worked really hard and has become quite the player. I’ll even use her to set at times when we need her to.”

Lovis is a four-year starter and will use her experience gained from playing in a number of high-intensity matches over the past three seasons.

“She started as a freshman and I’m really comfortable putting the offense in her hands as the setter,” Hartman said. “She’s the person I’m going to need that senior leadership to come from.”

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