The Warrenton Lady Warrior volleyball squad will have a new look this season, with a new head coach and several new starters. 

Warrenton alumna Kayla Nelson will lead the Lady Warriors on the court this season after previously serving as an assistant coach for Warrenton. She replaces Randy Kindschuh, who coached the Lady Warriors the past six seasons. 

Warrenton seniors Nicole Benne and Maya Halter both spoke highly of their new head coach as fall practices started earlier this month. 

“I definitely feel like a new coach has felt the best that it has ever since I’ve been in high school,” senior setter Maya Halter said. “A new coach, I feel like is definitely more relatable just because she is younger and she played for Warrenton. And just that she is a girl, she just understands more I feel like.” 

They also think Nelson previously serving as an assistant helped with the transition. 

“I really like our new coach,” Benne said. “We can connect with her more. She’s more our age and like, she’s just really good for us.”

One of Nelson’s main goals early in fall practice was to ensure the Lady Warriors are well conditioned and are fast on their feet. She noted volleyball requires fast and quick movements. They also focused on receiving serves, which Nelson said are crucial. 

Halter said the amount of conditioning put in by Warrenton before the season is more than in past seasons. 

“We’re definitely trying to get more conditioned and prepared with our athleticism…We’ve been running more and doing more stations to work on our faster feet is what she’s mainly trying to get us to do,” Halter said. “Her saying over the summer was that she wants our team to have the fastest feet so we can play that next level of higher volleyball.”

Benne, Halter and Emery Payne are the lone seniors Warrenton brings back this season. They also have eight juniors on the roster, including Chandler Blondin and Erin Klasing, who each played in at least 75 sets last season. 

Nelson said while she is looking for results on the court, she is focused on the process of helping Warrenton get better throughout the season. 

“I want them to be like we’re young, we’re out here to get it,” Nelson said. “We’re gonna show people what we’re made of. So we’re working on that shift and that’s where the confidence in the Starbucks mentality comes from is making these girls believe that they can compete with any team that we put on the floor.” 

Halter said her main goal for the season is to have fun on the court and have a strong relationship with her teammates. Benne added she is looking forward to more team bonding and the Lady Warriors working together as a team this season. 

“My main goal for this season is to have fun, just have fun and play my heart out,” Halter said. “And try to have a better relationship with the girls than the girls last year did with us.”

Warrenton is set to open the regular season at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at Ft. Zumwalt East.