By Becky Walz,
Playing focused along with communication will be the key for the South Winn volleyball team in 2021.
With seven returning letter winners and a handful of young hopefuls ready to wear the red and white, it will be up to the Warriors to prove just how far they can go this season.
Putting the team together for his second season is Alex Smith. Assisting him will be Harley McCabe, Ashley Walz and JT Monroe.
“We return a great deal of experience amongst our returning letter winners and some newcomers that achieved some success on the junior varsity level last year,” said Coach Smith. “Our large roster makes for competitive practice and should lead to some development throughout the season. Our team has made a commitment to all the important aspects of the program and look forward to the challenges of the season.”
Big numbers, low outcome
The Warriors had a big turnout out of players vying for court time in 2020; however, the numbers didn’t convert to wins as South Winn was 2-6 in the Upper Iowa Conference. Five letter winners were the leaders on the court as the Warriors battled for wins.
The season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs, with the Warriors falling to MFL MarMac 0-3 (18-25, 14-25, 14-25). South Winn ended the season 4-21 overall.
As a team, the Warriors served 901-for-1,040 for an 86.6 serving efficiency with 129 ace serves. In 65 sets, they produced 234 kills along with 212 assists, 642 digs and 81 total blocks (36 solo, 45 assists).
Those gone
South Winn graduated six players from last year. Madison Kriener, a middle blocker, was named second team all-conference last year. She had 93 kills, 50 digs, 37 total blocks (23 solo, 14 assists) and served 149-for-174 with 23 aces. Mary Frana, an outside hitter, provided 21 kills, five digs and 14 total blocks, while Presley Bushman hit from the right side and produced 14 kills.
Sydney Becker and Emma Barness were also part of the front line attack with Becker hammering down 25 kills and grabbing 35 digs. Barness had two kills and one dig.
Defensive specialist Breanna Dvorak ended her season with 79 digs and went 122-for-134 with 13 aces from the serving line.
What it takes
The Warriors will rely on their letter winners to lead the team, starting with 2020 UIC honorable mention selections Ruthie Frana and Eryn Luzum.
As an outside hitter, Frana was second for the Warriors in kills with 55. She also provided 43 digs, six blocks and was 36-for-40 in serving. Luzum, the team’s libero, snared 210 digs and served 170-for-203 with 41 aces.
Emily Michels is likely a staple in the backrow once again after coming away from her junior campaign with 52 digs and serving 142-for-156 with 15 aces. Dishing out 181 assists, junior Alison Heying looks to return to her post as the Warriors’ setter.
Others vying for time will be seniors Jillianne Wangsness (defensive specialist), Janessa Zweibahmer (middle hitter), Riley Meyer (defensive specialist), Carly Meyer (right side hitter); juniors Morgan Kleve (middle hitter), Josie Bohr (outside hitter), Hailey Riehle (setter/defensive specialist), Gabby Becker (setter/defensive specialist), Josie Hageman (defensive specialist) and Morgan Kriener (defensive specialist); and sophomores Avery Humpal (right side hitter) and Katrina Hageman (outside hitter).
“Having graduated our team leader in kills, we will be looking for more offensive options as we enter this season,” noted Coach Smith. “We should have a well-balanced offense with a number of hitting options to look for. The two biggest aspects of high school volleyball are serving and passing, and we hope to get off to a good start in those areas and make improvement as we move along with our consistency.”
Thoughts for the season
Coach Smith predicts there will be a competitive balance in the Upper Iowa Conference. Based upon the teams that return a stout nucleus of players, he believes North Fayette Valley and MFL MarMac are strong candidates to claim the league title.
In his second season at the helm, Coach Smith’s goal is to see the Warriors build on the aspects of the game the coaches have been emphasizing over the past year, compete in each match and have the belief South Winn can challenge all the teams in the conference.
“Our team will play with a great deal of energy and if we are consistent in our play, we should be fun to follow down the stretch of the conference season,” said Smith. “Our goal is to get a little better each time we are together and handle moments of adversity in a constructive way.”
The Warriors open the season Thursday, Aug. 26, at home in a varsity triangular with Hudson and Dunkerton at 5:30 p.m.
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