FAYETTEVILLE -- Abbie Kathol has some big shoes to fill as she begins her volleyball career at Fayetteville.
Big sister shoes.
Abbie Kathol
School: Fayetteville
Class: Sophomore
Position: Outside Hitter/Libero
Height: 5-8
Notable: Expected to start in her first varsity season. … Third sister to play in Lady Bulldog volleyball program. … Sister Allie played from 2008-10 and Andrea played from 2010-12, winning Class 7A state championship in her senior season.
Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs Volleyball
Date^Opponent^Time
Aug. 25^Greenwood^6:30 p.m.
Aug. 28^at Ozark, Mo.^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 2^at Conway^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 4^at Rogers Heritage*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 5-6^at Tulsa Bishop Kelley Tournament of Champions^TBD
Sept. 9^at Fort Smith Northside*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11^Springdale Har-Ber*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 13^Fayetteville Tri-State Challenge^TBD
Sept. 16^Rogers High*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18^at Springdale High*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23^Fort Smith Southside*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 25^at Bentonville*^6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30^Rogers Heritage*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 2^Fort Smith Northside*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7^at Springdale Har-Ber*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 9^at Rogers High*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 11^at Ozark, Mo. Grand Slam Tournament^TBD
Oct. 14^Springdale High*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 16^at Fort Smith Southside*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 20^Benton^7 p.m.
Oct. 21^Bentonville*^6:30 p.m.
Oct. 28-30^Class 7A Tournament at Fayetteville^TBD
Kathol enters her sophomore season with high expectations as one of many talented new Lady Bulldogs who will be expected to get her team back to the top of the 7A-West Conference. But in Kathol's case, the pressure to impress comes not just from her skills on the court but also from her family ties to the program before her.
Older sisters Allie and Andrea Kathol both were key players during some of Fayetteville's best seasons. Allie, an outside hitter, played from 2008 to 2010, and helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a Class 7A runner-up finish her senior year. Andrea followed from 2010 to 2012 and as a defensive specialist/libero was a big part in the Lady'Dogs state championship, 35-3 team in her final season.
Now it's Abbie's turn.
"We were never really on the same team, but we played volleyball together all the time," Abbie Kathol said. "We have that connection and they're the ones who kind of taught me how to play. So it's kind of neat that now I get to follow in their footsteps.
"(Andrea) is always saying, you've got to win state because I did. And Allie just missed at state in her year so she's counting on me to finish that." The latest Kathol sister brings a versatile game to the Fayetteville program. At 5-foot-8, she has the length to make plays at the net. But her defense in the back is also considered a plus, leaving options for Lady Bulldogs' coach Jessica Phelan.
"She's a great passer and defender, so one day I'm thinking she's our libero but she's also so savvy in the front row hitting," Phelan said. "So whatever role she's in she will embrace and put her heart into whatever she's doing.
"She plays hard she is just such a good all-around volleyball player, and she gives us options."
Phelan described Allie Kathol as the more laid back sister, while Andrea was the more passionate, in-your face competitior. With Abbie, Fayetteville has more a mix of the two sisters before her.
"Allie was more of a chill kind of a person in volleyball and Andrea played more aggressive," Abbie said. "I think I'm kind of in the middle, so I'm a little different from the two."
Fayetteville dealt with its most difficult season last year under Phelan, going 12-19, as the majority of the 2012 state title team had graduated out of the program. While the Lady Bulldogs are still a young team this year, Kathol expects the winning ways to return in a hurry.
"I'm just really excited to see how our team bonds," Kathol said. "I think with our whole team together we can win conference and state. So I'm just looking forward to bonding with my team and becoming better teammates."
Sports on 08/24/2014