North Platte – The name has changed, but the fire and determination remain the same. Alexa McCall, formerly Alexa Hopping will lead the 2016 North Platte Community College Lady Knights Volleyball team to what she hopes will be an improvement on their 15-23 record a year ago.

McCall said, “We are going to be a very solid defensive team this year. We have depth with our defensive specialists as well as our front row. We will be able to terminate out of defense with three options. I also believe that we will be strong in serve receive.”

The Lady Knights have six players returning from the 2015 squad.

“Our expectation for this year’s squad is to use our experience to help our freshmen be more game ready quicker,” McCall said. “Our sophomores have done an exceptional job of welcoming our freshmen and making them feel at home. At the same time, they are also pushing them very hard in practice because they have a good idea of what it is going to take, and they want to make sure we are all on the same page. I think we have a lot of different personalities and it will create different types of leaders that we are going to need.”

The Lady Knights participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II. Their schedule includes Division I opponents and some of the Division II top teams in the nation. In 2015, 10 of the opponents for the Lady Knights were ranked in the national polls. They went 4-6 against those opponents.

McCall said, “Some of our key match-up games will be against our Region opponents, Central and Southeast, because they are the ones that we will have to get past in order to move on in the postseason. The Johnson County Tournament will show us some of the best teams in the nation, and it will be fun to see how we compete.”

The Lady Knights will have two players, sophomore Shelby Wolever from Brush, Colo., and freshman Madi Gilg, from Gothenburg, competing at the setter position.

“They are both pushing each other in practice and are working extremely hard. I believe that the more reps they have, they will continue to grow and be solid leaders for our team,” McCall said.

One of the positions that the Lady Knights will be deep at is at the libero / defensive specialist position. Megan Chintala, a 2015 All-Region IX Tournament team member from Fleming, Colo., returns for her sophomore campaign.

“She knows the game so well, and knows exactly how we want things. She is very vocal in the back row and reads really well. The freshmen have responded to her very well and get better every day,” McCall said.

Freshmen Antonya Schaffert, from Otis, Colo., Cheyanne Kuhlman, from Imperial, and Jessica Eckhout, from Amherst, will also compete for playing time at the defensive specialist position.

Sophomore MaKenna Ketter, from Imperial, second in kills from last year’s squad, is coming off of shoulder surgery in the offseason.

McCall said, “She is working hard to make sure that she gets back to normal.”

Joining Ketter on the outside position are freshmen Brooklyn Krehmeyer, from Weldona, Colo., and Schaffert.

“Krehmeyer is a very meticulous player that I’m excited to see how she does,” said McCall.

All-Region IX middle blocker Jessica Lovitt returns to anchor the middle blocking position.

“She has worked hard and we are going to look at getting her the ball as much as we can,” McCall said. “She is explosive and also has become a great leader that the girls look to for support.”

Freshmen Aly Camacho, from Scottsbluff, and Mikenna Curlee, from Peetz, Colo., will add depth to the middle position.

“Aly adds some height and will be another offensive weapon for us,” McCall said.

“On the right side, sophomore Josie Palmer from Brady will be a dominating force. She has worked extremely hard, and we will be using her for an offensive weapon more this year than the previous. She sets up a good block, and is really playing some good volleyball right now,” McCall saud,

Ashley Starr, from Tryon, and Curlee. will compete for playing time on the right side.

“They both continue to grow, and it will be a good competition for them,” McCall said.

“The girls have worked hard over the summer and during this first week of preseason. Our sophomores are really pushing our freshmen and the freshmen are responding well,” McCall said.

“I think our practices will be very competitive and will offer experience and depth for all positions. We have a great group of girls off the court as well. They have high expectations for themselves and are positive young ladies that are determined. I’m excited to start competing and see how the year goes.” McCall said.

McCall said. “We have set team goals that include serving and passing and those are two areas that we will work hard to be successful in.”

On Aug. 20, the Lady Knights will give their fans a glimpse of the upcoming season when they scrimmage the alumni at 2 p.m. at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on the south campus of NPCC.

The Lady Knights will open the regular season on the road at NJCAA Division I Northeastern Junior College on Aug. 24 in Sterling, Colo.

The home season begins with the Subway Invitational on Aug. 26 27. Four other teams will compete in the invite: Eastern Wyoming College, Colby Community College, Casper College and McCook Community College.