By Ben Cox
Practice season for fall sports is coming up on August 11. Over the next few weeks, I’ll try to give you the best preview I possibly can for the upcoming season for high school sports. It should be another great season for our student-athletes on the hardwood, the gridiron and in the field. This week, we will start with volleyball.
Central State Eight preview
If last year’s Central State Eight outcome is any indication of the upcoming season, then it’s going to be many of the same teams vying for the top spot again this year. Normal U-High has over 20 volleyball regional titles since it came into existence in 1976 as a lab school for Illinois State University. They are able to recruit top athletes and some of the smartest kids in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. They regularly boast a pretty competitive rivalry with private institution Bloomington Central Catholic in multiple sports. BCC was the state runner-up in 2A volleyball last year. U-High fell to Mahomet-Seymour in the Mahomet-Seymour 3A Sectional final last year. They dominated their schedule and handed Sacred Heart-Griffin their lone conference loss last year. U-High is bringing back a lot of players from last year’s squad while SHG lost a lot of the key cogs in their offense. Lincoln and Glenwood are always tough and could possibly chase SHG out of the top 3 this year in the conference. Rochester is also expected to be better this season.
Jacksonville is the sleeper in the conference this year. They could surprise a few people. JHS volleyball head coach Gary Hickox says it’s all about keeping his team poised during high pressure moments, “For the conference, it is all about competing the whole match and learning from it. We are working on defense intensity and never giving up on a ball on defense this summer.” The remainder of the conference will have a lot of work to do if they wish to change their fate this year. Jacksonville players to watch:
Emma Guidish (senior, middle hitter) was second on the team in kills and blocks last season. Guidish will be expected to lead the front lines of a senior-heavy squad in a tough Central State Eight Conference.
Emalee Pool (senior, libero) was the Crimsons’ top digger last year at 317 and top in serve receiving. She also was fifth on the team in assists.
Head Coach Gary Hickox says that ball handling and defense will need to remain consistent throughout the year for a good seed during the postseason. Pool will be at the center of both of those aspects this year.
Western Illinois Valley Conference preview
The Calhoun Warriors tromp all the way to the state title was the best showing the WIVC has seen in nearly two decades at the state tournament. It was the first volleyball title for the WIVC. The last team to get close was the Elite 8 Routt Rockets in 2005. Calhoun is the most distinguished volleyball program in the conference with 12 regional titles, two sectional titles and now the state crown. They aren’t going to relinquish the top of the conference very easily. Carrollton and Triopia put up spectacular seasons this past year, but ultimately succumbed to the Warriors dominance. Triopia has a lot of returning veterans this year, especially in their front four. Meanwhile, Carrollton lost some key pieces to graduation that will be hard to replace. Meanwhile, Greenfield-Northwestern will have some key returning players up front that have some size. GNW hasn’t been in the upper echelons of the WIVC the past five seasons but has rebuilt a core nucleus of players under current head coach Rachel Kinser.
Routt is also returning several key frontline players from last year, including WIVC league leader in blocks Meaghan Marshall. It’s also been about five years since they’ve competed at the top of the league. The remaining teams in the league appear to be building or rebuilding their current programs around a couple of core players. Routt players to watch:
Meaghan Marshall (senior, middle back) led her team in blocks, was second in kills and fifth in assists last season on a team that was inconsistently offensively. Marshall’s play will be just one catalyst for a young Routt team this year.
Grace Cleveland (senior, outside hitter) was right behind Marshall last season in kills, second in assists, tied for third in blocks, second in digs, tied for third in assists and second in serve reception. She’ll pair well with Marshall offensively in the hopes of taking Routt to double digits in the win column this year.
Triopia players to watch:
Mylee Tracy (senior, hitter) was in the top five of most all statistical categories last season for the Trojans historic 26-win season. Tracy is known for her feats on the softball field, but she had an equally impressive volleyball season last year. She is the center cog on a senior-heavy squad and is a proven leader.
Lucie Dion (senior, hitter) was almost in lock step with Tracy most of the season, making them a dynamic tandem on the Trojan’s frontlines this year. They proved that they have an explosive front line attack on both sides of the net. Dion will be hoping to help the Trojans repeat.
West Central players to watch:
Sofie Grubb (senior, setter) finished fourth in kills, was the Cougars top blocker, finished second in assists and fifth in service reception. She will be the field general for the Cougars this season. She will have to help with a more inexperienced squad this season after several key graduates.
Hallee Lawson (senior, libero) was a bit of a service specialist last year finishing fourth in aces and fourth in service reception on the defensive side. She’ll likely see more playing time this year, likely plugging holes on the Cougars’ front line.
MSM Conference preview
South County looks like a lock to remain in the middle of the pack in this highly competitive conference. Nokomis, Raymond-Lincolnwood, Springfield Lutheran and Calvary appear poised to retain a tight grip atop this group. It’s been awhile since any of them have had any state tournament success. If South County is going to take a step forward this year, this would be the year to do it, as two out of the four of these top teams lost considerable amounts of talent to graduation. The Vipers will have to keep the relatively young Mt. Olive squad on their radar, as the Wildcats will be returning several starters from last year.
South County players to watch:
Aliviah Colwell (senior, setter) will be the key piece to the Vipers’ offensive attack. She was a top five finisher in most statistical categories last season. She will set the table for the rest of the offense.
Claire Ahlers (junior, middle hitter) will benefit the most from Colwell’s set up this season. Ahlers had a solid sophomore season in the MSM Conference. Trailing only seniors in most statistical categories, she will be the key focus for opposing teams this season.
