2024 Bullpup Fall Sports Preview: Volleyball

McPHERSON, Kan. – Ad Astra Radio continues our coverage of high school sports by previewing McPherson High School’s fall sports. Our next preview is Bullpup Volleyball.

Christy Doile will go into her 19th year as the head coach of the team as well as her 25th year of being a part of the program. Under Doile, McPherson only had one losing season, which happened to be her first season in 2006 which ended in a record of 18-20. Since 2011, the Bullpups only had one season where they won less than 70% of their matches, including winning their first state title in 2012.

The Bullpups are coming off of one of their best seasons in school history, finishing 33-10 and ending as State Runners-Up. The 2023 season was a major improvement following a year where the Bullpups fell in the first round of Sub-State. The only improvement a team can make other than State Runners-Up is ending as State Champions, which the Bullpups have a likely shot of doing in 2024.

“We return numerous experienced, multi-sport, athletic players from our 2023 state runner-up and 2022 teams,” Doile said. “Our hitters, serve receive, hustle, ability to keep the ball alive off defense are our strengths.”

McPherson returns five starters from 2023, four of which earned All-League honors. They also bring back two others that could find themselves in the sixth starting spot or could have plenty of time on the court coming off of the bench. The team will be experienced with 7 seniors and 7 juniors.

Ava Romero and Brooke Doile are two junior Middle/Outside Hitters who return after earning all-state honors in 2023 (Romero – 2nd Team, Doile – Honorable Mention). Two other starters who earned 2nd Team All-League honors last season are senior OH Haely Hagemann and senior OP/Setter Addison Chapman, both of whom will play softball at the collegiate level. Senior Libero/Def. Specialist Josie Fitzmorris returns as well after starting the past two seasons. Two other returners who rotated into the lineup are senior OH Cora Pavlovich and sophomore Setter/Libero Rylie Whitfield.

“We will strive to continue our positive team chemistry, embrace team roles, and strategically put the most competitive lineup together,” Doile said. “We are excited to compete, exceed potential and make some great memories together in 2024.”

The team begins their season Saturday, Aug. 31 with a preseason invitational. Following the preseason, McPherson will only play at home three times: A triangular on Sept. 24, an invitational on Oct. 12, and Senior Night on Oct. 17.

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