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STC volleyball has senior sized goals for season

Members of the STC volleyball team show unity by huddling together between drills at volleyball camp. The team is all smiles as they look at what is up next in their practice. STC volleyball will travel to their first game of the season in Grinnell on Tuesday, September 1. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

The South Tama Trojan volleyball team is set to start their season on Tuesday September 1 in a non-conference game at Grinnell.

Fans will see some new faces in the Trojans’ starting lineup after graduating a slew of seniors including Alana Vest, Laurel Scharnweber, Sadie Kavalier and Catie Collins. Returners include seniors Madie Bacon, Natalie Stadler, Kallie Hala, Dani Stubbs and Jordan Knowles. Also new to the team is head coach Amy Dolash.

“As a first year head coach I’m really excited to build on the previous year’s program,” said Dolash, “I really want to develop a comprehensive and inclusive volleyball program starting in middle school up through the varsity level. We need a deep program where young players know the fundamentals early so we can focus on advanced play in High School in order to compete in the WaMaC conference.

According to Dolash she and the coaching staff are taking a different approach in the pre-season by focusing on getting the girls in volleyball shape through endurance, strength, plyometric, and speed training workouts in the mornings. During afternoon sessions the team focuses on different aspects of the game each day with all grade levels working together.

“We have a core group of seniors returning with a range of experience to lead the team. They have big goals for their senior year and are focused on leaving a positive mark on the South Tama volleyball program,” said Dolash.

To start building up the program the varsity players will be helping at the middle school practices a few days a week to give the coaches an extra set of hands for developing our young players according to Dolash. The team will also be hosting a volleyball clinic for the 5th and 6th grade aspiring volleyball players on August 30th where the varsity team will run the drills and show the young players what it takes to be a leader on the court.

As a special promotion, any girls in 5th – 8th grade who attend a STC volleyball clinic and purchase a 2015 STC Volleyball theme shirt can wear the shirt to any of our four home matches and get in free!

Here is a look at the WaMaC West conference competition for 2015 based on stats from 2014:

Center Point-Urbana

Game date: 9.3.15 @ home

Record: 23-15, 4-3

Coach: Cathy Hussman

Mascot: Stormin’ Pointers

Arika Woolridge (JR) led the Pointers with 94 sets and 246/529 kills. Assists were led by Haley Weideman with 531. They are ranked 11th in Class 3A.

Benton

Game Date: 9.8.15 @ home

Record 4-32, 1-6

Coach: Trisha Little

Mascot: Bobcats

Benton graduated their leader in sets and kills Natalie Parizek as well as their top in assists Bailey Gallagher.

Williamsburg

Game date: 9.15.15 @ home

Record 16-19, 4-3

Coach: Rachel Berkland

Mascot: Raiders

Williamsburg graduated their leader in sets and kills Claire Simmons. Junior Molly Wetjen led the Raiders with assists at 650

Independence

Game date: 9.22.15 @ home

Record: 34-8, 5-2

Coach: Joe Smitz

Mascot: Mustangs

The Mustangs graduated their leader in assists Alyssa Hawkins. Kaitlin Niedert (JR) led the team in kills with 315

Vinton-Shellsburg

Game Date: 9.29.15 @ Vinton

Record: 15-18, 3-4

Coach: Michelle Ruess

Mascot: Vikings

Vinton graduated their leader in kills, Caitlyn Kruckenberg. Their number two, Anna Sagan is a senior this season and had 126 kills. The Vikings top two in assists Kathleen Steffen and Chelsey Mier both graduated.

Marion

Game Date: 10.6.15 @ home

Record: 34-8, 7-0

Coach: Roxanne Paulsen

Mascot: Indians

Alyssa Thomas (SR) led not only her team but the WaMaC west in kills with 367. Graduated senior Amanda Sahm led the Indians in assists but behind her was Caitlyn Smith who is coming into her sophomore year. Marion remains the team to beat as they look to return the nucleus of their team. They are ranked number two in Class 4A.

Clear Creek Amana

Game Date: 10.13.15 @ CCA

Record: 26-9, 4-3

Coach: Jackie Clubb

Mascot: Clippers

The Clippers graduated their leader in kills, Natalie Brimeyer but Alyssa Weldon who is now a senior was not far behind Brimeyer. Weldon also led in assists with 464. The Clippers are ranked 4th in Class 4A.