By Becky Walz,
It will be virtually a new line-up taking the court for the Turkey Valley volleyball team this fall.
With the graduation of four seniors who all saw significant playing time last year, the Trojans will need to have some new players step into big roles.
Back at the helm is Tammy Vrzak and Jackie Novotny. Vrzak has 17 years of experience as the head coach, with Novotny bringing many with her as well as the pair co-coach. Joining them on the benches will be assistants Cally Mueller and Kelsey VanSickle.
What a year
In 2020, the Trojans had veteran talent with 13 returning letter winners.
That experience paid off, with the Trojans going 20-7 for the season and finishing 7-1 in the Upper Iowa Conference as the runners-up.
The postseason started with the Trojans spiking Kee High 3-0 (25-23, 25-7, 25-23). It was another big win in the next round, this time caging the Tripoli Panthers. After falling to Tripoli in eight of the last 10 postseasons, the Trojans defeated the Panthers, 3-2 (25-21, 12-25, 25-21, 17-25, 16-14) to advance to the regional semifinal versus No. 9 Saint Ansgar. There the season came to a crashing halt as the Saints took care of the Trojans three sets (19-25, 24-26, 6-25).
For the year, the Trojans had 726 kills in 2,270 attack attempts. At the service line, they went 1,475-for-1,606 for a 91.8 serving efficiency. They also had 168 aces.
The squad put together 641 assists, 1,194 digs and 100 total blocks (22 solo, 78 assists) in 76 sets played.
With the conclusion of the year came the graduation of seven players.
Ali Hoffert led the team in every category with 321 kills, 277 digs, and 43 total blocks (11 solo, 32 assists), while serving 253-for-277 with 38 aces to earn a first team all-UIC unanimous selection, all district and all state honors.
Sophia Adams had 81 kills, 63 digs and was 147-for-161 at the service line. A second team all-UIC selection, Kylie Wurzer provided 90 kills with 303 attack attempts to go with 165 digs and 10 assists, while serving 72-for-80. Aleah Hackman hammered out 47 kills and had 14 digs and 14 total blocks (6 solo, 8 assists), earning an honorable mention nod in the UIC. Sayler Drilling went 176-for-188 at the service line with 21 aces and came away with 58 digs to go with 38 kills. Raegan Kime and Rory Kuennen also graduated.
Strong players
Vrzak and Novotny have six big letter winners back to lead the team.
At the top of the list is Josie Weber. Last season, the senior setter surpassed the 1,000 career assist mark last year, tallying 567 for the 2020 season and earning an all-UIC first team nod. J. Weber finished the season with 160 digs, 40 kills and 12 total blocks (2 solo, 10 assists), to go with a serving mark of 334-for-348 with 46 aces.
An honorable mention selection a year ago, Kourtney Schmidt returns as an outside hitter for the Trojans. As a junior she pounded out 98 kills, 73 digs, seven total kills and a serving mark of 180-for-204 with 20 aces.
Defensive specialist Claire Courtney nabbed 180 digs, while fellow junior Halle Weber had 157 digs while going 192-for-207 at the service line with 20 aces last year.
Juniors Brianna Busta (middle hitter) and Jacqlyn Schmitt (right side/setter) also return with a letter.
In the league
Having not coached the last few years, Vrzak and Novotny don’t have a feel for the top contenders in the Upper Iowa Conference; however, the positive attitudes and the returning experience have the coaches confident the Trojans will finish in the upper half of the league.
“We look forward to being back in the saddle again,” said the co-coaches. “This is a great group of girls, so we look for great things out of them.”
The Trojans open the season Tuesday, Aug. 31, in a triangular with MFL MarMac and New Hampton.
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