Lauren DeGroot enters the upcoming season with high expectations for herself and Bishop Carroll, but more than anything, she is excited to compete alongside a team she believes can make another deep postseason run.
“I am so excited and blessed to compete with my amazing team,” DeGroot said. “The girls are some of the most hardworking and dedicated people I know, and are so fun to be around.”
DeGroot is especially looking forward to the Topeka Seaman tournament and the opportunity to test the team against strong competition.
She and her teammates spent the offseason preparing through team camps, open gyms, workouts and conditioning sessions. DeGroot also focused on her individual development, incorporating lifting and plyometrics into her training to become faster and more explosive.
“I have been doing a lot of lifting and plyometrics to work on becoming even faster and more explosive,” DeGroot said.
One of DeGroot’s primary areas of focus heading into the season is becoming more powerful at the net while improving her vertical. She has worked toward those goals by getting in extra repetitions and spending time in the weight room.
“I’m wanting to improve on my power when I hit, as well as my vertical,” DeGroot said. “To do this I’ve been getting in lots of reps, and doing tons of lifting.”
DeGroot also hopes to take on an even greater leadership role for the Golden Eagles. She wants to set the tone through her effort in practices, workouts and matches.
“Individually, I want to be the best leader I can for the team by putting 110% into every rep, lift, and game,” DeGroot said.
Her experience and production give Bishop Carroll another reason for optimism. Last season, DeGroot earned second-team All-Metro, first-team All-City and first-team All-Academic honors. She was also an All-Tournament selection at Hays.
DeGroot finished the season with 269 kills, a .312 hitting percentage, 156 digs and 33 aces.
Now, she hopes to use that experience to help Bishop Carroll accomplish its biggest goals.
“As a team we are looking to take City League for the third year in a row, and host/win regionals to make a strong state run,” DeGroot said.
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