Libby volleyball defining strengths in preseason
<p>Back row left to right: Alli Collins, Samantha Miller, Sammee Bradeen, Jayden Winslow, Emily Mossburg, Mehki, Sykes, Brooklyn Rainer, Khalyn Hageness, Haylee Cannon. Front row left to right: Emma Gruber, Linsey Walker, Emily Carvey, Marissa Wood, Kylee Quinn, Jessika Jones, Sheyla, Gallagher. (Bethany Rolfson/The Western News)</p>
With Volleyball season around the corner, Libby’s volleyball coach projects a good year for the varsity team.
“I’m excited. They’re a fun group of girls,” head coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said. “They’re fun to be around. Good chemistry.’
Ostrem-Johnson has been coaching for 30 years and has been a head coach for 24 years. According to her, out of the 16 JV-varsity players this year, there are four juniors, 11 sophomores, nine freshmen and no seniors. While Ostrem-Johnston said they may be young, she is expecting great things from the team.
“Some of my younger players got some pretty good experience last year,” Ostrem Johnston said.
Every year, the team goes out for a team-bonding day at McGregor Lake. Ostrem-Johnston says that she can usually tell whether or not the team will have chemistry after the lake trip. This year, Ostrem-Johnston said she saw a lot of bonding between the girls with no apparent cliques.
Ostrem-Johnston said that they have really great strengths on their serving and chemistry. She said they also have a good balance of height.
“I feel pretty good about our overall skill level,” she said. “We just need to work on consistent sets and passes to the setters.”
In 2015, 17 of the varsity players graduated, according to Ostrem-Johnston. Last year, the team finished the season with an 8-12 record, and Ostrem-Johnston is hoping to increase their wins significantly this year.
The Lady Loggers varsity volleyball team will play their first game during of the fall at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Tip Off Tournament in Mission.
Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.