Sandusky Varsity Volleyball Preview
Coach’s name: Angie Blank (2nd year coaching varsity)
Record, current school: 7 wins/8 losses Career: same
Team’s record last year: League: 3rd; 4 & 6 Overall: 7 & 8 (not counting tournaments)
Key returning players, with comments (& last year’s stats): Jenna Franzel: senior, defense specialist, serves-62, kills-5, digs-50. Quick in back row, determined athlete, consistent server, will serve as my back-up libero. Leah Rourke: senior, outside hitter, serves-26, blocks-10, kills-31, digs-34, assists-22. She has earned the spot as my main outside hitter this season…powerful, quick, strength as an all-around player. Ally Blank: junior, libero, serves-113, kills-17, digs-112, assists-12. She has earned the spot of my main libero this season, really agile in back row and goes for everything, great at reading hits, consistent server, great team leader. Jess Kursinsky: junior, middle hitter, serves-56, blocks-82, kills-84, digs-30, assists-14. She is one of my middles this year who has gained a lot of confidence and is excited to perfect her jump serve this year.
Key losses to graduation:Brooke Krueger, Erin Campbell, Sammi Galvan, Keegan Nelson, Amanda Bartle, Kelsea Hernandez, Taylor Ball
Top new prospects: Callie Jacobson, (10), setter; Madison Armstrong, (11), outside hitter/right side/def. specialist; Katelyn Patterson, (11), outside hitter; Haley Nelson, (10), middle hitter; Madysen Jansen, (10), right side/def. specialist
Comments on this year’s team (strengths, weaknesses, goals): We lost nine seniors and they will be missed immensely, but we have such a promising group of athletes this year, especially with bringing up the three sophomores to add to our team’s strengths. This year’s group of girls is determined, extremely competitive, and some have been playing together for many years, so the connections on the court are phenomenal. Our strengths lie in running plays this year and having confidence in knowing their positions. Our areas for improvement would be serve receive passing and overall floor communication. Our goals are TBD this next week of practice, but I can guarantee they will involve beating our league standing of 3rd from last season and improving our performances in tournaments.
Comments on league this season: From what I’ve gathered, it sounds like there are some coaching changes and young teams this season across the board, so I am very excited to see how everything turns out!