Wharton Volleyball Kids Could Lead Way

Wharton volleyball star Kathryn Attar poses for a picture, with a freshman to her right, and two others to her left.

“My babies,’’ the senior says, only half-jokingly.

This year, the Wildcats’ outside hitter might just be feeling like the team mother, as she adds a larger leadership role to go with her prodigious talents at the net.

Not that leadership is a new thing for Attar. The past three seasons, she has led the way for Wharton volleyball on the court, with 1,110 kills, including 358 last season. She has established herself as one of the top players in the state.

However, she has always been younger than other players on the team.

But, now that three starters — setter Tyler Sroufe, middle blocker Lindsey Schaible and libero Chanelle Hargreaves — from a team that went 43-12 the past two seasons are off playing Division I-A college volleyball, all that remains from that experienced and cohesive group is Attar.

She does have her babies, however:  the freshmen trio of hitter Jeanette Henderson, middle blocker Jamie Koopman and setter Ella Hileman.

“It’s great for Jeanette or anyone in that position that every day, she gets to see and learn from the best in the game, in the state, at that position,’’ Barber says. “Kathryn is very much like an assistant coach this year. She’s always been the youngest on the team, so this is her year to really kind of be the leader not just physically, but also from a maturity level.”

Wharton Senior Providing Leadership

Barber says having Attar, who has verbally pledged to play college volleyball at Yale University, makes the Wildcats instantly competitive. But they they will need more. The team does return sophomore setter Gracie Viloria, who played a lot last season after Sroufe got hurt. Senior Allie Schneider, who transferred in last season, her first with Wharton, and junior Devyn Kettner, who was called up from junior varsity late last season, return.

What could push them even deeper into the playoff picture, though, will be the development of the youngsters.

“It goes in waves,’’ Barber says. “We were in this situation (losing a lot of starters to graduation) 3-4 years ago. Now we’re back to a new start. To me, that’s what keeps it fun in coaching. The challenge will be getting them far enough along to make a push at the end of the season and take advantage of having Kathryn.”

Because Wharton is changing from a 5-1 alignment (with one setter) to a 6-2 (with two setters), Hileman will play a key role. “She is going to be a really good setter,’’ Barber says.

Henderson, who plays the same position as Attar, is only 5-6 but has the kind of vertical leap that would make a lot of basketball players jealous. “She has great jumps,’’ Barber says. “She’s already has some good kills against some tough teams. I’ve been impressed.”

Koopman will try to step into Schaible’s role in the middle. Last year, Schaible had a team-best 180 blocks to go with 229 kills. Koopman, who is 5-foot-10, won’t be expected to put up those kind of numbers her first season, but Barber expects her to improve and become a force under the tutelage of Attar.

“Even though she doesn’t play the middle (blocker position), she knows everything,’’ Koopman says about learning under Attar. “She just knows what to do. It’s great, I love playing with her.”

Hileman agrees. “Kathryn can teach because she knows how everybody’s position is played,’’ she says. “I’m a setter, and she knows what I do. It’s good, because she’ll help all of us, not just one of us.”

Freshman Class To Help Wharton Volleyball For Years

While Barber says Hileman, Koopman and Henderson  — all starters — will play the biggest role among his freshman, they won’t be the only ones making their mark in the next few years. He says he has a dozen first-year prepsters playing this year, some of whom he will reveal later this season when they get called up to varsity.

“Overall, our freshman group is outstanding, it’s the best we’ve had,’’’ says Barber, whose team is now 5-6, but after a stumble at the Academy of Holy Names tournament the Wildcats have won their last three matches, including a win over Wiregrass Ranch.

Attar thinks that talent will develop enough by the end of the season to make the Wildcats a team to be reckoned with come playoff time in October.

A player of her All-State talents can carry a volleyball team to a successful season, but the kind of help the freshmen can provide could mark the difference between good and great.

“I’ve seen noticeable improvement already, and there should be more noticeable improvement by the end of the year,’’ Attar says. “You wouldn’t look at us and think we haven’t played together before. We should be really good by the time Districts (begin).”

Wharton High 6th Annual Harvest Volleyball Tournament

WHEN: September 30-October 1.

WHERE: Wharton High gymnasium, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

TEAMS: Wharton, Brandon, Durant, Freedom, Sunlake, Gaither and two teams to be named.

OUTLOOK: This annual event is also a food drive, with fans urged to help fill a large box outside of the gym with canned or boxed food items which is used to help feed people at three local food banks.