Despite Yelm High School’s volleyball program returning just four starters for the 2024 campaign, the team is optimistic for new beginnings as it enters a new chapter by joining the 4A South Puget Sound League (SPSL).
In 2023, the Tornados picked up one win throughout the 2023 season last year, but Yelm’s head coach Heidi DeFord remains optimistic for her team’s future. The coach said there’s a lot to be excited about going into the 4A SPSL. She cited that there’s “some power houses” in the conference and some teams she’s excited to learn about.
“I think we’ve got some competition that we’ll be able to compete with,” DeFord told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Sept. 9, prior to the Tornados’ practice. “There’s some solid teams in the SPSL, but there’s also a lot of unknown. We’re excited to see some new faces and some new teams out there. We’re excited to see some new competition.”
The second year head coach noted that her team’s four returning starters have made a lot of progress. She’s optimistic to see her team’s work throughout the offseason translate to the fall competition in the 4A SPSL.
“There’s been a lot of work done. Lilly Grant has made a lot of progress over the last year, and Jolee Reeves made some great progress. Ellie Sloan transferred in to set, and obviously Layah Hicks is a returning All League libero. There’s been some work done in the offseason, which is exciting.”
DeFord described the team as being “a little on the younger side” but said she thinks the players’ youth could be both a challenge and a blessing for the 2024 Tornados.
“It could be a challenge just because we don’t have a lot that have that varsity experience, but it could also be good because there aren’t a lot of girls that have that varsity mentality of how things used to be,” DeFord said.“We’re definitely more athletic. We’re quicker than we were last year. Everybody is kind of realizing how much work you have to put in to keep improving, especially with going to a bigger conference — even though our 3A league was really strong for volleyball.”
Prior to the team’s first game on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Stadium High School, DeFord said her message to all 34 girls across the varsity, JV and C-team programs has been to continue their hard work and remain focused.
“I’m just really excited to see them on the court and see how they put it together actually going into a game. It’ll tell us what we need to start focusing on more, too,” DeFord said. “I know we’re going to be undersized in this league, but we’ve had a lot of talks about how we’re going to beat that and work around that by being scrappier and trying to be quicker than everyone else, just keep working hard and focusing on improvement.”
Yelm’s home and season opener was originally scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6, against Tenino High School, however the Beavers canceled the game. The Tornados’ home opener for the 2024 season will be played at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, against the WF West Bearcats inside Yelm’s gymnasium.
