Young leads for Xavier volleyball

CEDAR RAPIDS - This year, the Xavier volleyball team will have new, younger faces leading the charge.

Junior Jessica Callahan and sophomore Charlotte Richards were chosen as captains by their teammates for the upcoming season and are excited for the opportunity. They have some big shoes to fill after last year's senior captains - Madsy Richards, Kayla Torson and Melanie Wertzberger - graduated.

Madsy Richards is the older sister to this year's captain, Charlotte Richards. Replacing a fellow sibling can be quite the challenge, but Charlotte is embracing it and taking full advantage of it.

'Being a captain is a big responsibility and privilege,” Charlotte said. 'I have learned so much from my sister about being a leader on and off the court.”

Richards' position is outside hitter. Madsy has taught Charlotte well because she leads the team in kills with 62.

In addition to finding leadership in her sister, she looks to her co-captain, Callahan. Throughout the first few games this season, Callahan already has 136 assists. No one else on the team even comes close.

'It is my job as a setter to help out my teammates by giving them an opportunity for a kill,” Callahan said.

The Saints lost their home opener against Class 5A third-ranked Prairie, 3-1. Callahan showed off her ability as a setter by leading her team in assists with 34. Richards led the team in kills with 13. The young captains already are developing a good bond early on this season and their expectations for the team are high.

'The expectations for this season are to make it to state, become closer as a team, and to beat Kennedy,” Richards said.

The team also competed in the Washington Invitational earlier this month and got its first win of the season against Davenport Central, 2-1. They ended the tournament 2-3. The Saints are 2-2 in the MVC, 8-9 overall.