WORTHINGTON -- With many top-notch area volleyball players having graduated this June, the Southwest Conference is truly up for grabs this year. Many clubs are struggling to quickly develop team chemistry for the early contests, and the first week or two could be crucial to the final conference standings.
Pipestone Area
The Arrows represented the area at the state tournament last season, finishing fifth with an overall record of 27-4 (4-2 in the conference). Unfortunately for Pipestone Area, state team selection Larissa Veldhuisen will begin the season playing for Dordt College. Erica Darveaux, Paige Pals and Brittany Gentzler also graduated, leaving many positions for head coach Todd Texley to fill.
The good news for the Arrows is that four seniors return with a lot of experience. Setter Ashley Weatherly, outside hitters Steph Kocourek and Beth Tinklenberg, and libero Kelsey Lorenzen will be asked to take leadership roles on the team. Juniors Nicole Buysee (middle hitter) and Faith Tinklenberg (outside hitter) also return with a lot of athletic ability and power.
"We should still be very strong up the middle," Texley said. "We're working very hard on getting the defense in place and we'll have to have good passing if we are going to make a return trip to the state tournament.
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"Staying healthy will be a key this year, because we will not be a very deep team," he added. "I think we're a pretty good team now and with some hard work could return to state."
Jackson County Central
The Huskies battled it out with the Arrows for top honors last year, compiling a 5-1 conference record as part of a 23-5 overall mark.
Coach Ferris Grund lost four key players off last season's squad in Kylla Bargfrede, Danielle Honnette, Tessa Prochaska and Emily Balster.
"All four are tremendous athletes and we'll miss their leadership this year," Grund said.
Senior Traci Fransen and junior Megan Bezdicek will be asked to provide leadership for the Huskies. Also returning for JCC are seniors Brenna Munoz, Margret Rubis and Angela Oelke. Juniors Anna Meneely, Sally Clarksean and Ashley Lucht are expected to be in the day-to-day rotation, as well as senior Brittany Bakalyar.
"We have some strong, powerful hitters on the squad," Grund said. "Our passing needs some work, but we have the skills to make that a strength. Our main goal, early on, is to develop team chemistry."
Windom
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Head coach Ron Wendorff returns with good friend and assistant Gene Lovell for another season of tag-team coaching. Losing All-Conference libero Chelsey Majerus, middle hitter Kristen Vande Hoef, setter Bridgette Muller and back line player Erin Dumke leaves the Eagles (3-3, 10-9) with some shoes to fill.
All-Conference honorable mention setter Megan Ysker and honorable mention middle hitter Casey Christiansen will be joined by seniors Maggie LaMaack (outside hitter), Alexis Towelerton (outside hitter), Katie Symes (setter) and Cassie Oddson (libero). The addition of Westbrook-Walnut Grove junior Malori Paplow should be a boost to the team as well as the play of sophomore Amy Robinson. McKenzie Lovell, a 6-0 freshman hitter could be a surprise in the conference.
"We're looking for the seniors to add leadership and grab the bull by the horns," Wendorff said. "Hopefully, that will take the pressure off some of the younger players as they grow into their roles.
"We've had a good spring and the confidence is high. We expect to be competitive with everyone in the area."
Luverne
The Cardinals will begin the season under the direction of first year head coach Kristin Shoemaker. Having coached two years of JO's in Marshall and three years of JO's in Pipestone, Shoemaker has the experience to turn Luverne around form its 0-6 conference mark of a year ago.
The Cardinals have several returning seniors on the squad in Erin Hoiland, Lindsey Olson, Meghan Cronberg, Hilary Hanson, Becca Sandager, Brittany Vogt and Dinah Xaphakdy. Hoiland, Cronberg, Vogt and Sandager, form a strong hitting group for Luverne. The Cardinals will look to focus on defense and passing in order to get its hitters in an early groove.
"We need to develop team chemistry early and work hard on defense," Shoemaker said. "We have an enthusiastic group of hard working players. Teamwork and communication will be a key to the season."
