Volleyball practice has been fast paced. Here, with her teammates to back her up, Ali Iverson goes up high to spike the ball. The CCHS girls’ volleyball team is coming off a 20-4 record last year and even though they lost some key players through graduation, look to be a contender for the conference crown once again.
The Cook County High School Viking volleyball team looks like it will once again put a good group of players on the floor with six returning lettermen and a good nucleus of underclassmen who have stepped up their game and are ready to contribute to the varsity. Still, it will be hard to match last season’s record of 20 wins and 4 losses. But that’s not to say it’s out of reach.
“We had our first scrimmage at Two Harbors and I was very pleased with what I saw,” said Head Coach Pam Taylor.
During that scrimmage the girls played six 20-minute matches against single A and double A schools and even though scores weren’t kept, more than held their own, said Taylor.
“We need to find a second and third setter to help Bekah Laky out, but so far it looks like Taylor Ryden and Abbey Sutton might fill those roles,” said Taylor, adding that Ashley Deschampe, Ali Iverson, and Theresa Morrison have all stepped up their hitting, with C.C. Quaife and Sarah Fagerman providing power hitting from the outside. Anna Carmen will perform the Libero duties and Rachel Wieben will be counted on for her all around play, said Taylor.
Rounding out the top 12 are Mikala Buchheit and Katerina Gordon.
All told there are 31 girls out for 9th-12th-grade volleyball and 28 out for junior high volleyball. Numbers that all but ensure CCHS will field solid teams for years to come.
Taylor, who is in her 28th year of coaching, said many of the kids reported to practice in good shape. “A group of kids went to volleyball camp this summer and some have worked out in the fitness center. It helps out a lot. Overall the kids have great attitudes and are working hard. We should be all right this year. We might surprise some people.”
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