×
×
homepage logo

Volleyball team builds for next year

By Keith Burner - | Nov 15, 2000

Though the Tonganoxie High School volleyball team finished 9-24, the coach and players said that record was no indication of how good the team had become by the end of the year.

After spending this season getting to know their new coach and one another, team members will take the court next season with a good idea of their roles on the team.

Not only that, the team won’t lose any players from this year because it has no seniors.

“This year, we got experience out of the way,” said first-year Tonganoxie Coach Kelly Alexander. “Now that we’ve got that experience to build on, I see us being more successful next year.”

Much of that success will be built on the leadership of several of this year’s juniors.

Three of those juniors were recognized by the Kaw Valley League for their play this year.

Aimee Eisman made first-team All-League. Andrea Korb and Keri Walker made honorable mention.

“It was an accomplishment for me,” Eisman said. “It was one of my goals, and I thought I improved all season.”

Named to two All-Tournament teams this year, Eisman led the Chieftains in kills with more than 150.

Walker, the team’s leading setter with more than 400 assists, said she was a bit surprised by the award.

“I feel great,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognized. Sometimes setters get overlooked.”

Korb, the team’s best outside hitter and second best in kills and blocks behind Eisman, said that she thought her team was going in the right direction.

“This year we were very inexperienced,” she said. “Next year we’re going to be awesome.”

Alexander said much of that depends on how well next year’s seniors step up.

“Those three juniors were our main floor leaders,” she said. “Their leadership as seniors will be crucial to success next year.”