Last season the Gresham Community High School volleyball team’s offense went through Darci Huntington.
The graduated senior was a second-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference-10 selection, the only Gresham player to get all-conference recognition last year.
This year coach Tim Wild is looking for someone to replace Huntington in his 5-1 offense.
“She was on the court, basically, the whole time,” Wild said. “She was my setter, so I’ll have a new setter this year.”
The leading candidate is Nande Carroll, a junior, with Taylor Hoffman also getting a look.
Wild also lost four other senior starters from a year ago.
Of the 15 girls in the program, four are returning starters: seniors Tylena Bohl, Brittny Andrews and Lindsay Anderson, as well as junior Nicole Creapeau.
“Nicole Creapeau, she played outside hitter for me, she’s coming back,” Wild said. “I have Lindsay Anderson, she’s a middle hitter. Brittny Andrews, a senior. She’s an outside hitter and has some varsity experience.”
Brianna Stehberger, a versatile junior, will also be a player to watch this year.
“She’ll play middle and outside for me. She can play pretty much anywhere,” Wild said. “She’s doing a great job so far.”
The low numbers and number of players with limited experience mean Wild has to be sure of his placements.
“There definitely is a lot of strategy going in, just because you don’t have a lot of subs,” Wild said. “You have to be careful where you put the players because you might not be able to sub them out. You have got to utilize them where they are at.”
On the court, the Wildcats will have to deal with height issues. The tallest player is 5 feet, 7 inches. The solution to that, according to Wild, is to play good defense.
“If we’re not getting blocks, we need to be a good passing team,” Wild said. “I think that’s going to be key. How well we pass the ball is going to determine how well we do in the matches.”
Gresham faces tough competition in the Central Wisconsin Conference-10, after going 0-6 in conference play a year ago. Rosholt returns CWC-10 player of the year Alyssa Yenter, Wild Rose is set for a good season and Marion returns a large squad.
“They’ll be tough,” Wild admitted. “Every night we hope to be very competitive.”
Gresham Community High School installed a new gym floor this year, and the volleyball team will get the first extensive action on it.
“They’re saying they’re sticking a little bit because it’s new. It’s been an adjustment, but it’s been good,” Wild said. “We like the new floor.”
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