Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Members of the 2015 Kimball volleyball team, pictured front row, from left, are: Jannel Fiehtner, Jazlyn Harroun, Kiersten Anderson, Justine Heeg, Hanna Klosterman, Lacey Klinkhammer and Sheridan Magninie. Pictured, middle row, from left, are: Kaitlin Wurdeman, Ali Hunsaker, Madison Wynne, Desy Nelson, Guro Litlere and Ireland Olson. Pictured, back row, from left, are: Raelynn Hinton, Madie Snyder, Madison Biesecker, Shauntae Daily, Danika Daum, Mikayla Fiehtner, Kate Reader and Hailey Paxton. Not pictured: Hannah Biesecker.
Experience abounds for the Kimball volleyball team in 2015.
The Lady Longhorns did not lose a single player from a year ago to graduation, so this season the team will be full of returning, experienced players. There are 10 returning letterwinners and six returning starters, along with seven seniors who will be on the team. Last year's squad went 15-14 overall and 6-3 in district play.
First-year coach Jeri Ferguson is excited about her return to coaching and the prospects for this year's team. Ferguson, a Kimball standout in her playing days, returns to the sideline a decade after she coached her last basketball game.
"All the girls are showing a lot of promise and a lot of excitement," she said. "We had a solid, competitive summer at the camps and are ready to take on the competition."
Leading offensive player Danika Daum is back after to patrol the middle after having a team-high 292 kills and 60 blocks a year ago. The 5-11 Daum was also second on the team with 312 assists and 28 aces.
Madison Biesecker also returns after leading the team with 388 assists and 34 aces a year ago. She was also second on the team with 207 kills and 25 blocks, and added 248 digs defensively.
Another returnee with solid offensive numbers is Madie Snyder, who was third on the team with 107 kills last year. She added 21 aces in the serving game and chipped in with 207 digs defensively.
Raelynn Hinton, a junior, returns after having 80 kills and 22 blocks offensively last season. She was third on the team defensively with 235 digs.
Senior Ali Hunsaker led the way for the team defensively last season with 332 digs. She also pitched in with 50 kills and 14 aces offensively.
Other returnees include seniors Ireland Olson and Mikayla Fiehtner, juniors Jannel Fiehtner, Kaitlin Wurdeman, Shauntae Daily, and sophomore Hannah Biesecker.
Kimball also has plenty of up-and-comers to bolster its ranks. There are currently eight freshmen on this year's squad.
Ferguson said the season is sure to be exciting and is confident her team will go far this year.