Spend any time with Varsity Volleyball Coach Kristi McDevitt and it will be clear that she is excited for this upcoming season.
‘I am exited about moving to the Oakland Activities Association (OAA)…I am really hoping that we can compete this year and make a name for ourselves the first year in the OAA for volleyball.?
In order to move up to the OAA Red, the league’s top division, Oxford will have to prove itself against the competition in the middle division, white.
They will compete against Birmingham Groves, Birmingham Seaholm, Farmington, Farmington Hills Harrison, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and Southfield.
One difference McDevitt notes from the Flint Metro to the OAA is the number of quality teams they will see.
‘The FML you have your two or three powerhouses that are always fighting for first, second or third…I think the playing level is going to be a little higher because we are not going to have the teams we are just going to walk all over,? McDevitt said.
‘I am excited for that,? she added. ‘To play against more quality teams is going to make our program better.?
McDevitt has six returning players, four of which are starters.
Leading the way for the Wildcats will be Senior Captain Allyson Winget, who is returning after sitting out the last two seasons with knee injuries.
‘She was a freshman on varsity with a lot of talent, but she hasn’t been able to do anything until this year,? McDevitt said.
However, McDevitt noted that Winget didn’t sulk because she couldn’t play. ‘She worked her butt off,? McDevitt said.
‘She has been the one on the sidelines with me listening to me gripe and complain about what I like and don’t like and she does everything to make me happy,? she added.
McDevitt will also look towards her other senior Captain, Sarah Neibor.
‘She is one of those girls that works…everyday after school from the end of volleyball to the end of the school year, all I have to do is come over to school and I would see her running the hallways or in the weight room,? McDevitt said.
She added that ‘someone that can put time in like that on their own without being pushed by somebody, I think they have a lot of leadership qualities.?
Another player to watch for this season is senior Casey Novak, who was named one of the top 25 players to watch in Oakland County. McDevitt called her a hard hitter with a lot of power.
Senior Beth Downs will bring a solid defense and offense game to the court, while senior Paige Felisky will be the teams setter.
McDevitt said she will not have to worry about Felisky because she is a steady player who will show up and give her all everyday.
She added that she reloaded with some ‘fantastic juniors.?
One thing that McDevitt loves is how dedicated the girls are to volleyball.
‘They don’t play any other sport, so it is kind of cool to see them leave as sophomores on the JV team or on my team last year and play nine months of volleyball and come back even better than what they were before they left me.
She thinks the Wildcats will be good offensively because they have plenty of big hitters, which McDevitt loves. They should also be solid defensively.
‘We are pretty aggressive and a scrappy little team and the girls are pretty athletic,? said McDevitt. ‘I think that is going to be our strength.?
The biggest goal for McDevitt this season is winning the OAA title so they can move up to the red division. ‘It’s a good group of girls and I’m excited,? she added.