Five Colfax seniors finish off high school volleyball careers

COLFAX — A pair of three year letter winners along with three players who were all contributors to the Colfax volleyball team ended their senior year with a conference championship and a final loss in the regional semi-final game to last year’s sectional champion Grantsburg recently.

Taylor Shipman and Braanna Steen played three years of varsity ball for coach Pam Meredith. Shipman was fourth on the team this year in kills with 130 with 44 digs, 15 assists, 12 solo blocks and six service aces. As a junior, Shipman was second on the team in kills with 135, was fourth with 133 digs and came up with 24 aces and 14 blocked shots. In three years of competition, she had 298 kills, 188 digs, 30 aces, 26 blocks and 18 assists. Although she could put points away with big slams, she also became known for her quick two handed push shot which usually landed over the opponent’s front row players for many a point.

Steen continues to play with a torn ligament in her knee and as an outside hitter, ended her senior season with 144 kills which was third for the team, 20 solo blocks, 14 assists and seven digs. Total for her three years are 239 kills, 29 digs, 25 blocked shots and 17 assists. Steen put plenty of points away with her cross court kills and was rewarded as a Second Team All Conference selection as a senior.

Two year veteran Emily Halpin, a force at the net from her middle hitter position, was second for the Vikings this year in solo blocks with 28  and finished with 32 for her two years. She was also a threat on the offensive side, slamming 138 kills, 81 this season, and had 28 defensive digs in the two years. In a 3-0 win over Boyceville this year, Halpin came up with five block-kills for points.

Emily Tuschl worked her way up from the junior varsity and found a home in the back row as a senior, saving points with 146 digs, placing her fourth on the team. Her consistency from the serving line was demonstrated quite often, but none more so than when she served up 10 straight points in the final set against Elk Mound for a 3-0 win. She finished the year with a 91.5 serving percentage with 12 aces.

Also moving up from junior varsity action, Georgette Wendt ended her senior season with two digs and an assisted block, and put the match away against Glenwood City with a final kill in the third set of the 3-0 win.

Throughout the season, Meredith praised her seniors for their leadership, work ethic and great attitude.

“After losing a conference championship their junior year, these girls set their mind on winning it this season,” she said. “It took a lot of hard work and some help from other teams, but we came through when it counted in the final match against Spring Valley. These seniors, whether on the court or on the bench, during games and practices, knew their role and were ready to play and did whatever we asked of them. We will miss them next season,” she added.