Newhouse is focused on helping the Railers grow together, take advantage of their experience and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
“This volleyball season, I’m most excited to see how much our team improves,” Newhouse said. “I’ve played with some of these girls since sixth grade, so I can’t wait to see us grow as players, step into our roles as seniors, and become stronger leaders on the court.”
Newhouse has spent the offseason preparing for an expanded leadership role. She played club volleyball, practicing three times a week and competing in tournaments throughout Kansas and Oklahoma. She also stayed busy with Newton’s summer program, participating in a summer league, twice-weekly practices and morning weight sessions Monday through Thursday.
She also attended Wichita State’s team camp and participated in other club open gyms to get additional repetitions and experience playing with different athletes.
While Newhouse primarily plays outside hitter and defensive specialist for her club teams, she has taken on the role of setter for Newton during her junior and senior seasons. That transition has helped her develop a deeper understanding of the game.
“I’ve also been working to become a more aggressive setter,” Newhouse said. “This summer I worked a lot on my tipping placement when setting from the front row and being as aggressive as possible and gaining more confidence in myself as a setter.”
Consistency is another area Newhouse has targeted heading into the season. She wants to become a dependable setter who puts her hitters in the best possible position to succeed.
Her responsibilities extend beyond setting the offense. As a senior, Newhouse knows she will be expected to provide leadership on the court.
“My primary goal is to be a strong leader for the team,” Newhouse said. “The setter controls the court so I need to step up as a setter and become a player that stands out and leads my teammates.”
Newhouse enters the season with a strong statistical resume. As a junior, she recorded 253 assists, 212 digs and 141 kills. Her performance earned her Newton’s Most Valuable Player award and a spot on the AVCTL All-League Second Team.
Now, she wants to use that experience to help Newton take another step forward.
“We have so many talented girls and our team has the potential to do extremely well this season,” Newhouse said. “We are fortunate to have played together for multiple years.”
Newhouse hopes that experience translates into greater consistency and success throughout the season. One of her goals is for Newton to finish in the top three in the league.
With a familiar group of teammates surrounding her and a new season ahead, Newhouse is ready to embrace her role as one of the Railers’ senior leaders.
“I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together — and, of course, win more games!” Newhouse said.
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