Volleyball girls look to improve on last year’s 14-13 mark
RANDOLPH — After a season of optimism was curtailed by multiple COVID-19 quarantines that led Randolph Lady Cardinals volleyball coach Rob Engel scrambling to come up with lineups and rotational depth, it is hoped that 2021 is a whole new story.
Last year, the Randolph girls finished 14- 13 overall and ended things with a sub-district loss to Winside.
Engel returns plenty of experience from that squad that know about winning and dealing with adversity which might just help this fall.
Seniors Ariel Fye (DS), Grace Nordhues (DS/L) – who returns from an injury last season - Emma Munter (MH), and Ryanne Winkelbauer, juniors Erin Engel (S) and Bailey Beal (M) – who both started a year ago – and sophomore Ella Scott (OH) are back to provide plenty of experience even if it lost some key talent.
“This team has to replace six graduated seniors but does bring back some key experience from last season,” Coach Engel said. “We have good size in the middle, an experienced setter, young but athletic outside hitters, and very experienced defenders in the back row.
“If the team is able to come together and play consistently, we look to be a very solid team in D2 and in an always-tough Lewis and Clark Conference.”
Beal had a breakout sophomore season with 158 kills and 62 blocks while Erin Engel quarterbacked the team with 284 assists while serving at a 97 percent success clip.
All of that will come in handy against a schedule that will only include three D2 opponents and one of them being Wynot which is anything but a pushover.
“In the conference, Ponca looks to be a favorite based on what they have coming back, but there will be a lot of good teams in the area, and you can’t take a night off or anyone can beat you,” Rob Engel said. “The challenges of the season will hopefully get this team ready to make a post-season run.
“We are really excited to return to a normal season, we had to deal with multiple COVID quarantines last year, especially getting hit hard right during conference tournament time, and subdistricts as well. Hopefully we are able to stay healthy and focused and we’re really excited about where the team is going into the season.”
Nordhues takes one of the roles of elder stateswoman for the Lady Cardinals and she admits last year was a rough one and is glad to put it in her rearview mirror.
“I am excited and can’t wait to play because I couldn’t play last year,” Nordhues, who had a torn labrum in her shoulder a year ago, said. “It was very hard to watch and sit out. The quarantines made it even more difficult with people out at the same time. We did really good despite it and mentally handling it.”
“It was pretty hard to have everyone in the same place. We’d have someone out for quarantine, and someone would have to step up and take the spot. It was confusing at times because we had to switch positions.”
Nordhues said the four seniors believes the lessons learned could give them the edge to have a strong season.
“We are getting along since last year,” Nordhues said. “There used to be a lot of drama, but we didn’t have as much. We did lose eight seniors, but we should be pretty darn decent.”
The Lady Cardinals tip off things Aug. 26 at the Cedar Catholic triangular in Hartington, which will also include Homer.
Stay in the know!
To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or in the Google Play Store.
