Hays looks to repeat 2021 title
The 2021 Western Athletic Conference volleyball season produced several memorable moments for the five schools.
Most notable was the WAC championship tournament title captured by the Hays Lady Indians, their first such league crown since the 1990s. The Lady Indians’ title ended the 10-year reign of Garden City’s Lady Buffaloes, who struggled with a young and inexperienced squad and ended in fourth place at the WAC tournament.
Liberal, which also went 3-1 at the WAC championship, lost 2021 Player of the Year Bree Horyna to graduation and will have a solid cast of returners to contend again. It all will be settled on Oct. 15 in Liberal with the traditional round-robin format.
In a poll of league coaches, the predicted order of finish was as tight as expected with Garden City, Hays and Liberal garnering the top three spots.
DODGE CITY
Mascot: Lady Red Demons
Class: 6A
Coach: Ashley Podschun, 5th season (55-87)
2021 record: Won 7, Lost 27 (5th place, WAC)
Top Returners: Easha Potts, 6-0, Jr., Middle Hitter (Only returning starter); Andrea Vargas, 5-8, Outside Hitter, Sr.; Vivian Nguyen, 5-8, Outside-Middle Hitter, Sr.
Of Note: Potts record 73 kills and had 28 blocks as a sophomore; Vargas had a 87.5 serve percentage and 109 digs and 19 kills; Nguyne had 38 kills, 15 blocks, 23 digs.
Top Newcomers: Freshmen Sophia Vargas and Emma Bell.
Coach’s Comments: “We will be very inexperienced, but look to be scrappy this year. With only three returners from last year, we will be having a total reset. We don’t have anybody that will overpower you, but we will play together as a team well, with hopes of being great passers and servers. We will not be out-hustled this year.”
GARDEN CITY
Mascot: Lady Buffaloes
Class: 6A
Coach: Trista Bailey, 6th season (122-68, .642)
2021 Record: Won 14, Lost 22 (4th, WAC); 6A Sub-State runner-up.
Top Returners: Piper Harris, 5-10, So., Outside Hitter (291 kills, 161 digs), 1st team all-WAC as a freshman; Makenzie Lucas, 5-11, Sr., Right Side, 149 kills, 46 blocks, 2nd team all-WAC; Taylor Mesa, 5-5, Sr., Defensive Specialist, 34 aces, 149 digs; Jenn Pinchon, 5-9, So., Middle Blocker, 47 kills, 29 blocks. Adeleena Unzueta, 5-4, Jr., Libero.
Top Newcomers: Kierrah Pinchon, 6-0, Fr., Middle Blocker; Lexi Arwin, 5-7, Jr., Setter; Aleeya Cruz, 5-5, So., setter; Avery Just, 5-7, So.; Kassidy Walters, 5-10, Sr., Right Side; Claire Heiman, 5-3, So., Libero.
Coach’s Comments: “We are really looking forward to the upcoming season and have our sights set on building from the experience we gained last year. We are returning a core group of kids that have really bought into our summer program and have shown tremendous growth in their skills and leadership abilities.”
GREAT BEND
Mascot: Lady Panthers
Class: 5A
Coach: Shelly Duvall, 5th season (83-50, .624)
2021 Record: Won 18, Lost 16 (2-2, WAC, 3rd place)
Top Returners: Valerie Luna, 5-7, Sr., Middle Blocker (104 blocks, 129 kills, .230 hitting percentage, 1st team all-WAC); Rylie Duvall, 5-7, Sr., Outside Hitter; Kyndall Blessing, 5-7, Sr., Outside Hitter; Sadie Spray, 5-8, Jr., Setter; Kenzie Premier, 5-8, Jr., Right Side Hitter; Macy Nachtigal, 5-4, Jr., Libero; Lauryn Davis, 5-6, Jr., Setter; Paige Thexton, 5-7, Defensive Specialist.
Top Newcomers: Kara Feist, 5-9, So., Right Side Hitter; Cassie Ellegood, 5-10, So., Middle Blocker.
Coach’s Comments: “I think our team is stronger than last year. We have eight returning from the 11 we had last season. We have some size with our younger girls that are stepping in and definitely seeing more power on the offensive side of the ball. I think we will contend in the WAC this year.”
HAYS
Mascot: Lady Indians
Class: 5A
Coach: Shannon Funk, 3rd season (31-40)
2021 Record: Won 18, Lost 18 (1st, WAC, 3-1)
Top Returners: Carly Lang, 5-7, Sr., Outside/Middle Hitter, 4th year varsity player; 1st team all-WAC; (36 aces, 92% server; 2.2 serve receiving rating; 181 kills, 336 digs; Aubree Thomas, 5-7, Jr., Setter, Outside/Right Side Hitter; (28 aces, 95% server; 325 assists, 161 digs; Julia Zimmerman, 5-3, Sr., Defensive Specialist/Libero; Rilee Schwarz, 5-7, Sr., Right Side Hitter (25 aces); Lakyn Zimmerman, 5-7, Jr., Outside/Middle Hitter; Molly Martin, 5-8, So., Outside/Middle Hitter.
Top Newcomers: Maggi Lindenmeyer, 5-6, Sr., Outside Hitter; Katie Linenberger, 6-0, So., Middle/Right Side Hitter; Dezarae Schmidt, 5-4, Jr., Setter/Defensive Specialist; Annie Humphrey, 5-3, Fr., Defensive Specialist/Libero; Lilian McGrath, 5-7, Jr., Middle/Right Side Hitter.
Coach’s Comments: “I believe this year is going to be a dogfight (WAC). I got a glimpse of Garden City this summer while Liberal and Great Bend are returning some great players. Of course, I’m shooting for back-to-back championships, but we are going to have to really fight for it. The league is going to be great this season.”
LIBERAL
Mascot: Lady Reds
Class 6A
Coach: Katie Garcia, 2nd season (19-16)
2021 Record: Won 19, Lost 16 (WAC, 2nd, 3-1); Lost 2nd round of 6A sub-state.
Top Returners: Rylie Hallman, 5-8, Sr., Setter/Middle Hitter, 1st team all-WAC (277 kills, 258 digs, 21 solo blocks, 20 aces, 312 assists); Lizzy Cisneros, 5-3, Sr., Libero, 2nd team all-WAC (51 assists, 586 digs, 21 aces); Jenna Ormiston, 5-8, Sr., Outside Hitter (184 digs, 159 kills, 39 aces); Elle Hatcher, 6-0, Jr., Right Side Hitter; Rachelle Terrazas, 5-8, Sr., Setter.
WAC Coaches Predicted Order of Finish: 1. Garden City; 2T. Hays, Liberal; 4. Great Bend; 5. Dodge City (Note: 4 different schools received at least one first-place vote).
