The Roos volleyball team came so close to the NCAA tournament last season. The team went to five sets in the 2023 Summit League championship match only to lose to the Omaha Mavericks. This came after the team won the first two sets and was leading in the third before Omaha staged a stunning comeback.
Now, it’s time to look ahead to 2024.
Change may be the story of the season. Seven players from 2023 will not be on the 2024 roster, including three who graduated: outside hitter Samantha Moburg, middle blocker Carly Gillen, and outside hitter Odyssey Warren.
“You can’t fill their shoes,” said head coach Christi Posey. “Everybody has unique gifts. Part of building a program is hoping that your seniors pave the way for younger players to model. When it’s their time to go, they’re ready for the challenge.”
One key player returning for the Roos is graduate outside hitter Kaia Dunford. Having spent her first three years in Tulsa at Oral Roberts and last year with Kansas City, her familiarity with the Summit League should play a pivotal role in success this season.
Coach Posey wants the team to find its own identity. She hopes that the players enjoy the season, regardless of the grind. Without the competition and the time spent together, the game wouldn’t be as fun.
“There will be times where we’re going to play teams that are better than us,” Posey said. “Can we be there at the end and put pressure on them enough to where we can overcome them? There will be other times when we outmatch our opponents. In those times, can we play to our standards? I want to see the team put themselves in a position to win during every match. Success for me would be team chemistry to get through the tough times.”
Kansas City will be the host city of the Summit League Volleyball Championships this season. The team absolutely wants to win the conference at home in front of its fans. Coach Posey sees this as an opportunity, but will not let the opportunity weigh on players.
“I believe we’ll find our rhythm,” said Posey. “It’s my job to help players find theirs early and be able to maintain confidence through struggles. I think we’ll be fun to watch. I’m looking forward to this season.”
The Kansas City Roos will be on the court in Orem, Utah, to start their season on Aug. 30. They will open their home season on Sept. 20 for the Kangaroo Klassic. Students and kids under 12 enter for free, and all fall sports are only $5 for tickets. Single-game and season tickets can be found at this link.
