227 ATHLETICS freshmen, and I see them doing some big things for us down the line.” Camdyn Hinton was the younger sister of Libby Hinton, who was excited to see what the future held for her sister. “I am excited to see Cam, my younger sister, step into a larger role when she gets my age,” Libby Hinton said. “That will be very special.” For new leaders on the team, Fear looked for players who led by example. “Words don’t mean much if you can’t back them up with action,” Fear said. One part of being a team that was together for a long time was the versatility of the lineups. “Our team has so much depth; so many people can play so many different roles on and off the court,” senior outside hitter Ally Stoner said. “The underclassmen are incredible people, and I know they will continue the culture when all the seniors graduate.” With most of the team returning, especially seniors, the volleyball team felt ready for the season. Written by: Jake Mooney SENIOR SEASON Seniors dominate the volleyball team roster. The Bison Volleyball team was made primarily of seniors in the 2022-23 season with four freshmen, one sophomore, two juniors and eight seniors. “The best part about having an older group is that team culture is established,” head volleyball coach Meredith Fear said. “They know what to expect from each other and it’s a lot easier for the younger girls to acclimate that way.” Senior middle blocker Libby Hinton appreciated the friendly environment this created on the volleyball team. “Our team culture is unlike any that I have ever been a part of,” Hinton said. “We are best friends off of the court, so it is a huge blessing to play with them on the court.” With most of the team in the same class, the seniors developed a sense of fellowship with each other. “I would say that the whole senior class has always been very close,” Hinton said. “But it is a pretty special feeling knowing this is our last time playing all together.” All but two of the Lady Bisons returned to play the fifth year they were eligible for due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the seniors playing their final season, the coaching staff looked to their younger players as future leaders. “Younger players to keep an eye on are Camdyn Hinton and Jacey Lambert,” Fear said. “They are our two true COME TOGETHER The Lady Bisons share a laugh in a huddle before their match against Arkansas Tech University. The players listened in as head coach Meredith Fear talked about the game. Photo by: Julianne Baker
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