
Returning letter winners on the court this season for the Vikings are (l-r) Leah Holland, Maddy Fromm, Kelby Kerndt and Olivia Christopher. (Photo courtesy of Tami Bohr)
Playing focused will be the key for the Decorah volleyball team in 2023.
With just four returning letter winners and a host of young hopefuls ready to wear the red and blue, it will be up to the Vikings just how far they can go this season.
Putting the team together for her ninth season is head coach Gina Holthaus. Assisting her this season are Jackie Reckward, Dawn Watson and Jill Boyd.
Putting it together
The Vikes opened the 2022 season with a Class 4A No. 9 ranking with six letter winners in charge. Decorah rolled through the early portion of the season with win after win before struggling at the NEIC play and the conference tournament. After defeating Mason City 3-2 in the Class 4A Regional first round match, the Vikes ended the season in a close battle with Charles City in five sets (19-25, 25-14, 25-20, 21-25, 13-15).
Decorah finished the season 19-13 overall and 2-8 in the NEIC.
As a team, the Vikes served 1,739-for-1,882 for a 92.4 percent serving efficiency. In 94 sets, they produces 838 kills, along with 772 assists, 1,509 digs and 149 total blocks (104 solo, 45 assists).
Those gone
Decorah graduated 10 players from last year. Amelia Dugger was a middle hitter, was named first team all-conference last year. She had 309 kills, averaging 3.3 kills per set, had 54 total blocks (45 solo, 9 assists) and served 121-for-124. Another first team All-NEIC selection, Haley Gossman, also graduated. During her senior campaign Gossman collected 188 kills as the other middle hitter, along with 54 total blocks (45 solo and 9 assists) and 253 digs. As libero for the Vikes, Dahlyn Headington earned a second team all-conference nod with 334 digs to go with a 242-for-266 serving performance.
Lani Hubka, a defensive specialist, produced 233 digs and served 230-for-241 with 13 aces. Another defensive specialist, Autumn Schaller had 55 digs and was 89-for-93 at the service line. Sami Mount, an outside hitter, pounded out 136 kills to go with 64 digs, while setter Emma Wold dished out 286 assists with 185 digs and served 264-for-274.
Also graduating were Chloe Reiser, who was sidelined early in the season with an injury, along with Britann Mettille and Addison Wemark.
Letters
The Vikes will rely on their four letter winners to lead the team.
Setter/right side hitter Maddy Fromm enters her senior season after providing 354 assists and 38 kills last season, along with 148 digs and a serving performance of 318-for-346 with 43 aces. Last year as a junior, Olivia Christopher pounded down 23 kills and came up with 37 digs. Leah Holland steps into a middle hitter/blocker role for the Vikes after collecting 93 kills, 79 digs and 15 total blocks last season. Holland also served 232-for-248 with 22 aces. A year ago as a freshman, Kelby Kerndt saw some time as an outside hitter, hammering out 16 kills and coming up with 16 digs.
They will be joined by Lydia Frank (Sr., DS), Sydney Kipp (Sr., RS/OH), Hayley Stowe (Sr., DS), Ellie Rolfs (Jr., L/DS), Sara Johanningmeier (Jr., DS), McKinley Massman (So., OH/RS), Dylin Thompson (So., S), Ava Holthaus (So., S/DS), Brooklyn Fromm (So., MH) and Clara Hjelle (So., OH/RS).
What it takes
There are a few concerns as the Vikes roll into the season in earnest. Coach Holthaus cites youth and inexperience as a weakness but believes the solid core of the team will help the team throughout the season.
“We will have, young inexperienced players at all positions this year, but that inexperience will take care of itself if the girls continue to work together and pull in the same direction. This group is young, but energetic and very coachable. They truly want to get better and be successful and are not afraid to put in the work,” said Coach Holthaus.
When it comes to the conference, Coach Holthaus believes Charles City and New Hampton are the two to watch for.
“We will largely be an unknown in the conference this year because we are so young and new. I think we could surprise some teams if the pieces fall right for us,” the coach noted. “I am hoping this team keeps getting better each and every day. I truly believe we will be a much difference team in October than we will be in August.”
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