Fall Sports Preview: Volleyball
BOURBON – Triton senior Jaela Meister is hoping she is heard loud and clear this season. The exuberant multi-faceted athlete will be a major factor trumpeting what should be a very exciting season for the Triton volleyball program.
Before she even walked into the Trench as a freshman, Meister had high expectations of herself as a volleyball player. Those levels never wavered, and entering her senior season, she expects even more.
“I’m feeling really confident heading into this season,” Meister said. “I’m excited about this team and the good that can come out of it. We have a good setter, good hitters and a lot of chemistry.”
Meister helped lead Triton to a sectional championship last October in a very competitive Culver Sectional that had the Lady Trojans knock off state-ranked South Central and also hated rival Oregon-Davis. Triton ran into a strong Blackhawk team in the regional that put an end to the run, but the momentum carried over into the offseason.
“The sectional was amazing. I never thought that we couldn’t win it,” Meister said. “That was a good team that we had last year, and I feel just as good this year. The seniors we had were great leaders, and it’s my turn to be that leader. Plus it’s always nice to beat Oregon-Davis at anything.”
Added Triton head coach Samantha Willsey, entering her second year at the helm, “Jaela should be a tremendous leader for us. She has all the tools to be a great player. I’m ready to see this season start.”
Triton’s team outlook is very bright, despite losing four starters from last year’s regional team to graduation.
Willsey’s varsity lineup, at least heading into week one, will feature just two seniors, two juniors and four sophomores.
Meister and Brooklyn Bitting are the elders of the group, with Quinn Downing and Katie Hepler both representing the junior class. The sophomore class should be the galvanizing force for the team, as backward as it may seem, but Willsey is insistent this is the group to watch. Courtney Jennings, Nicole Sechrist, Hannah Wanemacher and Emma Ross all will see major time this season, and some with huge roles to fill.
“I have no problems putting four sophomores on the floor at the same time,” Willsey said. “I have a very smart, intelligent team, both on and off the court. The girls have shown they can make adjustments in their play, and that will help with some of the new teams we are going to see that we don’t know.”
Meister and Sechrist should be the big hitters, Meister having led the team last year in kill attempts (607) and attacks won (178). Willsey has raved about Sechrist’s advancement from year one to two, and really thinks she can be a major force at the net.
“Wait until you see her,” Willsey said of Sechrist. “She is a power hitter and is finding her rhythm. It took some time for her last year, but she really came on this summer and looks great.”
Wanemacher will fill in as the team’s primary setter and Downing should have the alternate jersey on most matches as the libero.
Triton opens play Monday at John Glenn.
Warsaw Tigers
Key Returnees: Peyton Adamiec, Cassie Hoag, Jordyn Lindeman, Caroline Mayer, Haley Peterson, Courtney Steffensmeier
Key Losses: Celia Heckert, Katie Voelz
Key Newcomers: Kacy Bragg, Lexie Day, Erin Peugh
Coach Howard’s Comments: “We have an exciting and challenging schedule this year with many new teams. We expect to have a solid year provided there is good chemistry.”
Wawasee Warriors
Key Returnees: Becca Anderson, Meghan Fretz, Liz Hardy, Grace Ondrla
Key Losses: Aly Anderson, Addison Ayres, Paige Hlutke, Alli Ousley
Key Newcomers: Hannah-Marie Lamle, Peyton Rookstool
Coach Cole’s Comments: “These girls are willing to adapt and adjust to what I’m trying to teach them. They are really embracing the style of volleyball that I want to use and that is going to help up their confidence even more going into the season. They didn’t do a bad job last year, but I am really aiming to put a lot of wins on the board and get the girls confident enough to start competing with the higher caliber teams.”
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Key Returnees: Abby Betton, Lexi O’Connell, Olivia Trippiedi
Key Losses: Jaden Biddle, Tenaya Shull, Caylie Teel
Key Newcomers: Sophie Bussard, Emily Peterson, Shayleigh Shriver
Coach Eaton’s Comments: “I expect us to have a really successful season. We’re young and have some inexperience, but I think that we will be a much more balanced team. This is the most energetic group I’ve had in my three years here. They are such a competitive group with pure grit. They are not scared. I’m confident that we will have a shot at competing for the TRC.”
Whitko Wildcats
Key Returnees: Emily Day, Whitney Marsh, Kaitlyn Reed, Brianna Tackett, Haley Yohe
Key Losses: Maddie Gawthrop, Tressa Keim, Delaney Ray, Elaine Warner
Key Newcomers: Shianna Bradley, Kristina Slater
Coach Stidham’s Comments: “The team as a whole is very close. I have eight juniors and four seniors returning this year, and they have welcomed the four freshmen and treat them as equals. This will be a rebuilding year for the program. We have all new coaches from sixth grade to varsity.”
Lakeland Christian Academy Cougars
Key Returnees: Carissa Urschalitz, Hannah Delp
Key Losses: None
Key Newcomers: Kyla Kohler
Coach Goldsmith’s Comments: “Looking forward to a new year with all new team leadership. Hoping to make strides throughout the year as we look forward to sectionals.”