Besides being known as the year of COVID-19, 2020 is going down as the year of the changing of the guard in Ponca City Lady Cat volleyball.

Jennie Hinterreiter is the new head coach of the Lady Cat volleyball program taking over the reins from long-time coach Jaimee Miller. Hinterreiter isn’t exactly a new face at Po-Hi. She served as Miller’s assistant for 11 seasons. It is her familiarity of the program that gives her credibility is assessing this year’s prospects.

She is enthusiastic when she describes prospects for the season.

“We have eight seniors who are pretty passionate athletes who have an intelligence to the game that I haven’t seen. It will be interesting to see what they come up with on offense this year,” she said.

Hinterreiter was quick to point out that her reference to intelligence wasn’t meant to be a negative comment about former teams. Instead, she said what she is observing is an intelligence that comes with lots of playing experience.

In addition to the eight seniors there are two juniors who also bring a lot of positives to the discussion.

Hinterreiter said that she will put the burden of running the team’s offense on two setters, Naomi Gertken and Keirsten Oakley, both seniors. “They are a pair of smart girls who will be able to accept the responsibility,” the coach said.

A hitter, senior Baylee York, actually will be swinging through three different offensive positions.

The two juniors are Mia Steelmon and Isabelle Mendoza, who Hinterreiter said will be seeing a lot of offensive action during the season. “Keep a lookout for those two,” she said.

Two aces she has up her sleeve, she said, are left handed hitters, Ashley Pittser and Gertken. “Katie Kirchenbauer swings for us on the opposite side. Three defensive specialists will “wipe up the court for us,” she said. Those three defensive specialists are seniors Marina Ramirez, Madison Morgan and Hannah Malory

“Our seniors and juniors will see the main playing time,” the coach said.

The supporting cast is strong as well. It includes juniors Anna Siemers, Kaitlyn Hagar and Rylee Strah as offensive support and Jocelyn Gonzalez as defensive support. These four will be the leaders for the junior varsity, which Hinterreiter expects to be pretty strong as well this season.

COVID-19 protocols have been in place for practice sessions, including temperature checks, masks and hand sanitizers. Protocols for spectator participation in games will be established by the Ponca City Public Schools. Home games will be played in Robson Field House.

The Lady Cats are scheduled to open at home Aug. 17 in a match against Stillwater. This originally was on the calendar for Aug. 11. A match with Norman, also scheduled for Ponca City will be Aug. 18. Ponca City is scheduled to participate in a preseason tournament in Norman on Aug. 14-15.

The Lady Cats are scheduled to open at home Aug. 17 in a match against Stillwater.