Lady Toppers look to pick up some volleyball wins this season

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — Last year’s Hilltopper volleyball squad spent the season absorbing as many lessons as it could.

With a 0-8 record in the Dunn-St. Croix and a 0-13 record overall, there were quite a few, but head coach Christa Blaser does not take a dim view of the season.

“We did not reach our team goals, but it was another growing year for our program,” she explained. “We took a game from Colfax, which was fun, and for the majority of our games, we were able to maintain. We had a very young team, we started five sophomores.”

Fast forward to 2017, and the Glenwood City ladies have the advantage of losing just two seniors to graduation in May and a crop of juniors with a full season’s experience as varsity players. Add to that a crop of underclassmen willing to learn and improve, and Blaser’s Lady Toppers might just be on to something.

Last year’s seniors, Becca Moll and Briana Barstad, provided leadership for the team. Moll served as Blaser’s starting middle, and was one of the Hilltoppers’ offensive leaders over the course of the season. Barstad saw limited play, but was effective when on the court.

The Glenwood City Class of 2018 boasts players like Mariah Voeltz, Biridiana Leandro-Mendez, Emily Hill, Cortney Lawson, Alex Holldorf, Melina Schultz and Jenesa Klinger. While the senior class did not see much time on the court last year, they are hoping to make an impact as part of the 2017 team. All seven return as varsity letter winners.

Last year’s sophomores formed the base of Glenwood City’s varsity starters, and are looking to do the same again this year as juniors. Letter winners Jatelyn Johnson, Abby Kremer, Tressa Peskar, Michaela Nyhus, Delaney Quinn and Alexys Curvello are back for another season of generating some heat offensively for the Hilltoppers.

Blaser noted much of this season’s junior class attended Badger Camp in Madison this summer, and attended a Glenwood City camp run by Marshalltown Community College head coach Justin Hoskins. Information on the webpage for the Iowa school indicates Hoskins has a wealth of knowledge in building successful programs at the high school and community college level.

The Hilltopper head coach said the players who attended the clinics grew a great deal both in skill and confidence heading into their 2017 season.

It helps that the team’s core now has a full year of experience as well.

“We are ready for year two,” Blaser said. “They have worked hard all summer with leagues and camps. With the loss of only one starter, we are ready.”

The sophomore and freshman classes are also looking strong, according to Blaser. The Class of 2020 includes Mae Buttles, Kassadi Thompson, Skye Nauer, Hailey Rutske, Makiah Schutz, Brandi Standaert, and Leah Magsam. They are joined by a freshman class that includes Hallie Dopkins, Isabel Draxler, Hailey Schmidt, Kinsie Strong, Alexis Albrect, Kristin Dayton, Bella Rassbach, Yasmin Mendez, and Maddie Oehlke.

The Lady Toppers do not commit to just one set of goals each year. Instead, according to Blaser, the team sets one group of achievable goals, and when those are met, they work on meeting new expectations.

“Doing things this way helps them grow in so many ways, especially mentally,” Blaser explained. “It grows their confidence, which you can see on the floor.”

This is Christa Blaser’s fourth year at the helm of Glenwood City’s high school volleyball program. She is 1-35 overall. This year, Blaser’s assistant coach is Amy Dopkins, and Bridget Oehlke is a volunteer coach. Jacob Maes joined the coaching staff this year as the head of the c-team.

Glenwood City opened its season last night with a quad at Menomonie. The Toppers will play their home opener Thursday, August 24 against Chetek-Weyerhaeuser before hosting Amery August 28 and Owen-Withee August 29.

Roster

Seniors: Jenesa Klinger, Melina Schultz, Alex Holldorf, Cortney Lawson, Emily Hill, Mariah Voeltz and Biridiana Leandro-Mendez.

Juniors: Jatelyn Johnson, Abby Kremer, Tressa Peskar, Michaela Nyhus, Delaney Quinn, Alexys Curvello, Alyssa Multhauf, Ashlee Peterson, Olivia Scalze, Erin Davis, and Maggie Wallin.

Sophomores: Mae Buttles, Kassadi Thompson, Skye Nauer, Hailey Rutske, Makiah Schutz, Brandi Standaert, and Leah Magsam.

Freshmen: Hallie Dopkins, Isabel Draxler, Hailey Schmidt, Kinsie Strong, Alexis Albrect, Kristin Dayton, Bella Rassbach, Yasmin Mendez, and Maddie Oehlke.