ANAMOSA— It’s easy to give up when you’re suffering through a winless campaign like the one the 2007 Anamosa volleyball team experienced this past fall, but mixed into the 0-25 record overall and 0-8 mark in the first year of WaMaC Conference action, saw a club grow through character and resiliency.

“These girls never quit. We had so many line-up changes and I do want to point out how resilient the players are for adjusting to all those changes,” said Raider volleyball coach Angie Lawrence, who has decided to step down from her position with the program.
“Kandis Bieber went from setter to off-setter to outside hitter.
Chelsea Arensdorf went from outside to middle in the back row.
Maisie Timp went from middle to outside hitter. Steph Thompson was moved up from the JV team and to play setter and Adrianna Vargas stepped into the off-setter position from the JV team and did a wonderful job with all the switches. They never complained about all the changes.”

Anamosa players, coaches and fans knew the jump to the WaMaC from the Tri-Rivers was going to be a big one, and Lawrence relished the opportunity for her team to play against top competition.

“What a great conference to be in,” she said. “The WaMaC is a very competitive conference and it has only been a positive experience. All the WaMaC coaches were very nice and great to work with. We didn’t win a match, but it was a good experience.”

Leading the charge for the Raiders was the play of senior Katelyn Jamison, who led the Anamosa team in kills, attacks and service aces this past fall.

“I have seen Katelyn grow for four years,” said Lawrence who started her coaching rein in Anamosa when Jamison was a mere freshman just arriving at the school as well. “She started playing volleyball as a sophomore and had been a middle hitter for us for two years before moving to outside hitter this year..”

Jamison’s 59 kills easily led the Raider offense as did her 219 attacks at the offensive net. She also ripped balls over the net from the service line at an 84-percent clip with 23 aces.

“Katelyn can really hit the ball hard when she gets the right set,” said Lawrence. “I don’t think she has reached her full potential as a volleyball player, but she will definitely take what she has learned and apply it to her future plans. It has been a pleasure coaching her for the last four years.”

The Raiders also lose the services of talented seniors Dakota Ahrendsen and Christy Coons, who both added much to the Anamosa program over the last four years.

OLIN — The rise up the Big East Conference rankings continued for the Olin volleyball team in 2007, and the play of the Lions, who many in the conference used to consider an automatic win, no longer can do so.

“I think we made some noise in the league again this year,” said Lion volleyball coach Hilary Sauer after guiding her resilient club to an 11-14 record overall and 4-4 mark in the challenging Big East race. “It started last year and we continued to get better and better.”

What the Lions will have to do without next season however, is considerable as Sauer loses the services of three extremely talented seniors in Kalli Hansen, Roxanne Stolte and Torrie Minnaert.

“I feel next year, as a team, we are going to have to be looking in a different sort of direction to maintain and obtain success,” said Sauer. “We are losing our biggest hitter and our main setter to graduation this year. It will make for a slightly physically smaller team next year and we will have to make up for it with quickness and hustle.”

Hansen led the Lions in just about every statistic offensively turning in an amazing senior campaign.

“She’s a strong all-around player and is always moving her feet, which in volleyball is a great thing,” said Sauer of her star hitter who topped the team with a phenomenal 283 kills on 720 attacks while also leading the club with 360 digs, 393 serve receptions and a 93-percent serving clip with 31 aces. “

“Not only is she a very versatile athlete, but she is a hard and smart hitter too. In the two years I have coached Kalli, I have seen improvement in her not only as an individual, but also becoming a better and stronger team leader too.”

Hansen’s presence on the defensive end was also key to Lion success swatting 84 opposing shots at the net.

“She just did it all for us,” said Sauer. “She’ll be missed next year.”

Stolte leaves the program after topping the 2007 team with 203 assists. But the senior was also active in not only setting up the offense from her setter position, but also being involved in the hitting as well tallying 63 kills. Stolte also added 149 digs, served the volleyball at an 89-percent clip and tallied 30 aces.

Roxanne has been the starting setter for me the last two years,” said Sauer. “She has also grown in her abilities.

WYOMING — In a season that saw the Midland volleyball team reach record highs, even being ranked among the very best clubs in the state in class 1A, the standards and the expectations don’t change in Wyoming, and this 2007 club kept those standards set very high.

So, in the wake of a 13-16 finish for the Eagles overall this past fall and 5-3 mark in the Big East Conference (fifth-place), head coach Natalie Schurbon knows her team is capable of even more.

“I was expecting a better season than the one we had,” she said. “We had a lot of talent returning and a lot of seniority, but the thing I liked the most was the teamwork and willingness to try new things. Our setters and hitters both worked on the quicker offense a lot. We were able to get some quick hits out of the middle and some slides out of the sides. The girls really wanted to get those down and never gave up trying. With a little more confidence and another year, the girls should be able to excel at this offense.”

Offensively the Eagles were led by Kayla Thordsen, one of seven graduating seniors, and her 135 kills and 370 attacks at the offensive net.

“Kayla is a four-year letter winner and outstanding athlete and person,” said Schurbon of her first-team all-conference star. “She’s strong, works hard and has a great attitude. She always made practice fun with her sense of humor and silly dances.”

Aubrey Walters was strong at the net with 110 kills on 347 attacks.
Not only were her offensive numbers staggering, but she also topped the defense with 66 blocks.

“Aubrey was one of our best servers and kill leaders,” said Schurbon. “She loved the quick hits and could really read when to use them in the offense.”

Shasta Eganhouse was yet another strong presence at the offensive net for the Eagles.

“Shasta was our middle hitter and has a great vertical leap and really goes hard after the ball,” said Schurbon. “She’ll definitely be one to go to next year.”

Eganhouse ripped 82 kills on 247 attacks.

Brandi Larkey, another senior, had a big year with 56 kills while also adding 105 digs and 15 blocks. She also served the volleyball at an 87-percent clip with 23 aces.