Midwest City volleyball building off positive offseason
Trinnati Allen returns a volley during a recent practice at JE Sutton Field. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Midwest City’s volleyball team hasn’t had a lot of success in recent years.
The Lady Bombers are hoping to change that.
The team has a new coach in Matti Dix and a new outlook.
“I feel like we’re doing really well and have improved a lot,” said senior Hana Elam. “I think we’ve come a long way, not only as a team, but through friendships as well.”
New coach Matti Dix has been impressed with the team’s hard work this summer.
“They have put in a lot of work this summer with workouts, weights and conditioning,” she said. “I think they’re hungry for that comeback season. They have put in the work for it.”
The girls found success in their first scrimmage against Putnam City North a few weeks ago.
“They showed up and showed out and it was a great start to the season,” Dix said. “When they were playing it was just nonstop energy. Once these girls are on, it looks like they’ll have a bright future.”
The team is led by three seniors in Elam, Aiyonna Pitts and Cherysh Johnson. Elam will start at right side hitter after playing middle in the past
“She had great power behind her hits and she’s a great leader,” Dix said. “She’s very uplifting of her teammates and brings a lot of positivity to the team.”
Pitts and Johnson are two of the team’s best servers who will play key roles in the team’s season.
Trinnati Allen and Jakaylah Jackson will help at middle.
“They’re both powerful hitters who can block,” Dix said. “They can get a touch about every ball and work outside.”
Laila Stewart and Tori Sanchez are both solid players in the back row.
“When they’re together on the back row, they’re unstoppable,” Dix said. “They’re picking up everything, diving on the floor doing whatever they can to keep the ball in play.”
Sophomore Misell Wagner will help as a utility player.
Dix was hired this summer after coaching several years of club volleyball. She is originally from Amarillo, Texas and moved to Oklahoma three years ago. She won a state title as junior in high school and earned all-state honors three times. She played in college at Midwestern State and Arkansas Tech. Her mother was also a volleyball coach for 20 years.
Midwest City hosted Putnam City North Tuesday night in the home opener. The team will travel to Santa Fe South on Thursday before the Putnam City Tournament on Saturday.
Midwest City’s Cherysh Johnson returns a serve during practice last week at JE Sutton Fieldhouse. The Lady Bombers opened the regular season this week against Putnam City North. Photo by Jeff Harrison
