Milbank Volleyball Team Gets Set for a New Season

They’re set and getting ready to claim the court! The Milbank High School Girls’ Volleyball team is deep into their summer practice and finding their groove. Seven seniors return to the team. Coach Nancy Hoeke says, “We have five players with quite a bit of varsity experience, so that’s a good nucleus to build on.”

Coach Hoeke adds, “I’m excited to see how this group can come together and find success. There are individually really good pieces and parts to this puzzle; they just need to find the chemistry to put it all together.”

Hoeke says she believes the biggest challenge this season will be filling the position of the leading kill-getter – the position held by Molly Rick last year. “We’ll need some underclassmen that don’t have varsity experience to step up and get comfortable to add depth to our bench.”

Seniors Gabbi Cummins and Jaden Hoeke, and junior Jacey Engebretson all bring two years of varsity experience to the roster. Also adding power to the lineup, is six-foot lefty Anna Mathews in the front row. “Her blocking makes it difficult for attackers to get over,” Hoeke says in regard to Mathews’ height. Back row players Kylie Kasuske, Tonya Meyer, and Katie Wollschlager will be key team leaders, and senior Makayla Johnson will lead the attackers on the Bulldogs’ side of the court.

The Lady Bulldogs face their first opponent on August 23. Milbank travels to Roncalli to take on the Cavaliers.