WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City has won three consecutive district titles on the volleyball court and will try for a fourth in 2024. The Cardinals will be leaning on the strength of junior Jaeli Rutledge’s hitting.
Rutledge will pose a threat to all opponents at the net. The 6-foot-1 hitter registered 344 kills last year to lead the team in that category. She was just ahead of all-state outside hitter Aubree Lassiter with 309.
Lassiter, along with Sophia Crane, graduated in 2023 and leave the Cardinals down two all-state caliber players. Overall, there were four consistent varsity players who graduated from last year’s team. “Replacing two all-state players is never going to be easy,” head coach Rhonda Lawrence said.
“Lassiter brings an energy and enthusiasm on the floor that’s going to be hard to replace. Her hitting, of course, also makes that difficult. “Sophia Crane’s ball control is probably going to be the hardest to replace just because if you can’t pass, you’re not going to get to hit anyway.
” The Cardinals begin their season on Tuesday with a jamboree at 5 p.m. at home.
The regular season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Clever. The offense will often fall on the shoulders of Rutledge, a University of Kansas commit.
But that defense of digging up the ball and passing it to the setter is something Lawrence is still figuring out. Webb City has been focusing on ball control in practices and trying to figure out exactly who will step into the roll of play.