New season brings new head coach for Keota

KEOTA — The Eagles started the 2021 volleyball season with two wins, a loss, a second-place tournament finish and a new head coach.

Keota hosted its tournament on the first day competition is allowed for the fall of 2021. Monday saw six teams enter the contests with Highland, Mid-Prairie, Lone Tree, Tri-County, English Valleys and the home standing Eagles, led by Debra Swantz, Keota volleyball head coach.

“The girls did great,” Swantz said. “They talked a lot the first two matches and moved to the ball.”

Swantz helped the Eagles rally to overcome the English Valley Bears 25-23, 25-18, then clip Tri-County 25-20, 25-16. That put the Eagles face to face with defending tourney champ Mid-Prairie for the title.

The Golden Hawks won in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19.

Keota has not won more than six matches in a season since going 18-7 in 2014.

“The girls didn't give up,” Swantz said. We still have some work to do, but overall, I am happy with the way we played.”

Swantz works at Keota Elementary School as an associate. Sky Hahn had been the leader for the program the last two years but she is having a baby this fall so she opted out, said Keota athletic director Dan Stout.

Swantz has coached volleyball before, as she volunteered the last few years, but she has not had the opportunity to coach at this level of play.

Swantz sees potential for Keota volleyball with a strong group of student-athletes that can play well together, “so long as they continue to talk with each other and encourage and build each other up.”

Keota has enough underclassmen to build in to the program and the upperclassmen “are doing a great job leading.”

Keota struggles in the defensive department but Swantz has her team working hard to make changes and close the gaps. “Mental toughness is also a struggle but I'm hopeful that between team bonding and mixing things up during practices, that also will grow.”

Keota has plenty of practice time to grow. The Eagles don’t play until Sept. 13. Mid-Prairie hosts Washington Thursday.