EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – In a COVID world, keeping the Tigers healthy could be the biggest challenge they face this volleyball season, coach Kathryn Beile acknowledged. “Just because it is a new year doesn’t mean the precedent rules from last year are not still in play, and my hope is to keep the team as healthy (as possible) as we undergo the new school year,” Beile said. In addition to staying healthy, the Tigers look to improve on their 4-12 campaign of 2020. Many of their matches last season were canceled because of the pandemic. Two other goals will be to grow as a team and communicate better on the court. The Tigers have two seniors who could help them achieve those goals: Rylie Stottlemyre and Kyli Crowley. Both are returning starters. Crowley led the team with 142 kills in 2020, and received honorable mention on the all-conference team and was named second team all-district. Stottlemyre’s 107 kills were second...