Gillett volleyball team returns starting lineup under new coaches

Suring also hoping experience leads to big season
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

GILLETT — The Marinette & Oconto Conference will return several 2018 all-conference volleyball players to the court this fall, which in turn should lead to a fun conference race.

Gillett and Lena each return several starters from last year and hope to contend and finish well in the conference.

Gillett

Gillett returns its entire 2018 starting lineup, but will under new coaches. Erin Buhrandt and Brooke Schaal will serve as co-coaches, replacing Keri Hicks.

The Tigers struggled to a 3-13 conference record last fall, losing a number of tight sets along the way.

Seniors Grace Wickman (middle blocker), Sophie Horsens (setter) and Annie Kohls (libero) all started last year and are ready to provide leadership for the Tigers.

Juniors Karissa Schaal (outside hitter), Aubrey DeBauch (middle blocker) and Emily Umentum (setter) also started. Schaal was the team’s lone all-conference selection, landing on the second team.

“With the same starting lineup coming from last year, that sets pretty high standards for this year and makes room for even more growth as a team which we all were anxious for,” said Schaal.

Junior Emelie Horsens (outside hitter) also has varsity experience for the Tigers. Coaches Buhrandt and Schaal also believe junior Abby Peterson (outside hitter) and sophomore Naomi Anker (outside hitter, libero) could play big roles for the team this fall.

The new coaches have set a team goal of finishing in the top four in the M&O and also making a deep playoff run.

Hicks spent a total of 25 years coaching the varsity squad between two stints. “The reason I resigned was that I felt I was not reaching the student-athletes and getting them to perform to their best, so I hoped another coach would be able to coach them to their abilities.”

Gillett opens the regular season Tuesday and will host a triangular on Thursday. The Tigers will end the year competing in Division 4 for postseason play.

Suring

Suring must replace a first team all-conference player from a season ago, but returns five starters.

Leading the way will be seniors Stephanie Huth (middle hitter) and Jaden Bubolz (outside hitter, setter). Huth made the honorable mention all-conference team as a junior.

“As a senior, I think I use the fact that this is my last season as motivation to continue to leave everything on the court for my teammates,” said Huth. “Taking in all the little moments that I’m going to miss. Like my coach has told us seniors, ‘you can’t take it with you so leave it all on the court.’”

Juniors Grace Fisher (setter) and Kelsey Smith (hitter) and sophomore Kate Mahoney (outside hitter, setter) also started last season for the Eagles.

“I am hoping to have a scrappy team who will contend with any team in our conference,” said coach Tonia Kruschke. “We don’t have a lot of height, so we will need to maximize the strengths we do have. The girls seems to be excited to be back and are bringing a lot of positive energy to the court.”

Suring will open the season on Thursday at a triangular. The Eagles are also in Division 4 for the playoffs.

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