(Griswold) Griswold volleyball graduated three key seniors from a squad that won 15 matches last season.
The Tigers have six returning letter winners which coach Jody Rossell says is a good thing. “Two seniors are going to be really important for us this year with Makenna Askeland and Emma Mundorf. They were second and third on the team last year in kills. They will be a really important part of our offense. Emma led our team in blocks last year. They are just good overall players and leaders for our team.”
Coach Rossell identifies some of the other key returners. “We have Carolina Arcia returning as a setter for us. Other juniors Whitney Pennock and Carley Danker and sophomore Marissa Askeland will be really important moving forward.”
There’s some younger talent also hoping to cash in on an opportunity. “We have five girls especially who I think are competing for a varsity role. Junior Linsey Keiser I think will play a big role for us as a defensive specialist. Sophomore Gabbie Greiman has been playing some middle and some opposite for us. She’s been really working hard on her hitting and blocking and I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen in practice. Sophomores R’Nya Kirchoff, Addison Adams, and Joey Reynolds are working at multiple positions. I think they will all have roles on the court for us this year.”
Coach Rossell liked the team’s approach to getting better since last season. “Really good participation in open gyms this summer. It’s just always hard with lots of things going on and people out of town, but I thought the girls came in and worked really hard and were really disciplined in how we did things this summer and getting better. We had a camp the first week of August and have had practices and I’ve seen really good effort from our girls pursuing every ball and being aggressive. That’s always good to see and I think that will pay off for us.
Communication and working on different options within the offense have been points of emphasis in practice along with putting pressure on opponents. They’ll open the season August 25th at Lenox.
Griswold coach Jody Rossell:
