VOLLEYBALL: Verdigris eyes state championship in 2022

Jul. 20—VERDIGRIS — Caleb Horton doesn't pay much attention to outside noise.

When his Lady Cardinals reached the Class 4A semifinals last season alongside three private schools — Victory Christian, Lincoln Christian and Regent Prep — they were dubbed by some the "public school state champions".

The label was an honorary consolation prize created to somewhat downplay private-school domination in volleyball over the past decade. With the exception of Elgin's Class 4A title in 2012, every state championship since 2011 in classes 5A-3A has been won by a private school.

However, the Verdigris coach doesn't take solace in the technicality, and neither does his team.

The Lady Cardinals want to win the real state championship. They have no interest in a title created in fantasy and rewarded out of pity.

"The girls, they want to win it all," said Horton, who returns four of his starting six. "That's the goal. Usually some people will say, 'Oh, let's get to state' or 'Let's do really well,' but this year that's the goal — go through everybody and win it all. That's our mindset at the moment, and they've had a couple of good days at practice, so we will see. I'm excited about it, but I try not to talk so much about it. I told them I want them to do all the talking on the court through the gameplay. I don't want to hear your parents talk about us, and I don't care what anybody else says. You go out there and do it on the court and show people we are for real. People can talk, but if we show up to a game and beat somebody, that says a lot more. The pieces are here, but it's a matter of getting them to play together until the end of the year.

"I want the ring."

Key Question: Can Verdigris overcome top-tier private schools?

Private schools proved to be quite a thorn in the side of the Lady Cardinals in 2021. Seven of their 11 losses came at the hands of such institutions, and though Verdigris registered nine wins against them, it had a losing record against Class 4A privates (3-4) and was swept in three of those matches.

In eight total sets against Class 4A state champion Victory Christian and runner-up Regent Prep, the Lady Cardinals went winless.

"We did not beat Regent in season. We did not beat Lincoln in season. We did not beat Victory in season. We got beat by Mount St. Mary," Horton said. "When it came to it, we did lose to those schools that ended up on the top in tournaments. We need to actually go compete and beat them in season and see actually how we line up."

Horton said things are different this year, though.

While some of his players were improving in club leagues during the offseason, he was sharpening his skills as well. During club season, Horton was privileged to be under the tutelage of Jenks assistant coach Brian Shans, who has helped lead the Lady Trojans to three Class 6A state titles since 2006, including last season.

"I did a lot of learning from him," Horton said. "I mean, how can you argue with the 6A state champion? Shans taught me a lot. I'm learning a lot from people who know a lot more than me, and I don't have a problem with saying people know more than me. That doesn't bother me ever."

Horton is now excited to implement some things he learned from Shans, and he is already seeing an attitude shift from his players thanks to his change of approach.

However, the Lady Cardinals' inexperience of winning at the private schools' level still gives him reservations.

"I've got that little nervousness in the back of my head because I know what we can do, but it's actually a matter of them doing it," Horton said. "Verdigris has never won a state title (in volleyball). It's one of those things where we don't really know how to do it. Other people have experienced winning and know what it's like, and we really don't. I hope we can get through and not let the nerves or the show get in the way; let's just go play."

Key Returners: Morgan Borgstadt, Logan Hamilton, Abagayle Barnes

When it comes to hard-hitting kills and overall style points, look no further than Morgan Borgstadt and Logan Hamilton. The senior duo accounted for a majority of the team's points in 2021.

Borgstadt and Hamilton combined for 42 kills, nine blocks and four aces against Heritage Hall and Regent Prep in the Class 4A state tournament, and they look to be even more impactful in big matches this season.

"Morgan usually does a lot of summer basketball and comes back a little rusty, but she doesn't look nearly as rusty as she has in the past; she's hitting hard," Horton said. "Logan had a great club season with PVB, and those coaches did a good job with her. She's coming back hitting it pretty hard."

Elsewhere, senior Abagayle Barnes is back as a four-year starter at the libero position for Verdigris.

Barnes' stats aren't as flashy as Borgstadt and Hamilton's, but her presence is just as essential to the success of the Lady Cardinals.

"You get the big guns up front, people know those, but Abby is our libero," Horton said. "She's been that girl since she was a freshman; she's our back row. She's captain this year, and she really gets people in line and works hard. She's one of the hardest workers I've ever had. She's signed to go play soccer at NSU, so I'm excited to have her for one more season. She actually watches film and sends me clips and asks, 'What do we do here?' This kid actually goes out and does research and comes back to talk to me about it. Everybody talks about Logan and Morgan, but nobody ever mentions Abby. She doesn't get the recognition she needs."

Sicilei Redd, a junior, returns as well for Verdigris as the starting setter.

Key Match: Aug. 8 vs. Inola

This matchup has turned into one of the area's premier intracounty rivalries in recent years.

The teams played three times in 2021, with the Lady Cardinals winning the first two meetings (3-2, 2-1). The Lady Longhorns got the last laugh, though, sweeping Verdigris 2-0 in the semifinals of the Verdigris Tournament while on their way to the tournament title.

Although it is tempting to look ahead to matches against private powers Lincoln Christian on Sept. 1 and Regent Prep on Sept. 27, this season-opening blockbuster could determine the Green Country Conference champion.

"That first game of the year is huge," Horton said. "Inola has kind of been a rivalry lately, and it's a conference match right off the bat. Whoever wins that may win our conference. Not to be arrogant or anything, but after seeing everybody else, I'm not sure anybody can hang with the two of us. So our first game of the year may decide our conference.

"That's going to be a big one for us to get started at home."