Volleyball season opens

By VICTOR LAMPE
For The Weekly Post|

One year removed from its first volleyball regional title and a 25-5 record, Elmwood has a new coach and lots of new faces in its lineup.
“We have a lot of young talent and I am anxious to see how we grow and work together throughout the season,” said new coach Felicia Appell, whose team opened Tuesday at A-Town. “And, because the whole team seems to be very well-knowledged with different positions, it gives us many options. These girls have been working hard in the offseason even during a year of uncertainty, and I can’t wait to hit the ground running.”
Returnees for Elmwood include seniors Brianna Glover, Alexia Herman and Caroline Colgan, juniors Adeline Webster and Brooke Dawson, and sophomore Liv Meyers.
“We have a strong front row and the team communicates very well with each other,” Appell said.
Elmwood travels to face Williamsfield Saturday, then is home on Monday against Peoria Heights and Tuesday against North Fulton.
Princeville
Princeville returns four starters from a regional winner that went 28-6 and has several up-and-comers to add to a strong lineup. Returning are three Lincoln Trail Conference first-teamers: seniors Elle Schupbach (a four-year starter at outside hitter) and Ashleigh Brawley (middler hitter) and junior Julianne Kielion (setter) and second-team all-LTC senior Lindsey Meisenheimer (libero).
“We have a well-balanced and aggressive team,” Coach Charissa Ouart said. “I’m looking forward to a very exciting season with this group of young ladies.”
The Lady Princes opened by topping Ridgewood on Tuesday, 25-9, 25-13. Meisenheimer had 13 digs, Schupbach had 9 kills, Amber Brawley had 4 blocks and Ashleigh Brawley had 4 aces.
Next up is a four game-road trip to United Wednesday, Wethersfield Thursday, Knoxville Monday and West Central on March 24.
Brimfield
“We are a fast, athletic team with some big hitters and a fair amount of volleyball IQ,” said Coach Penny Silzer, an assistant at Elmwood last year.
Brimfield dropped its opener at Peoria Richwoods Tuesday, 25-15, 25-14. Jaclyn Fabry had seven assists, three aces and one block and kill. Brimfield travels to play Havana today and is home to face A-Town on Tuesday.
Farmington
“The girls are pumped up and ready to go” Coach Quincy Thompson said. “After thinking that a volleyball season was out of the question, we are very excited to have the opportunity to finish what we started last summer.”
Returning starters from a 12-25 team are seniors Sydnee Barton (OH), Erica Pasley (MH), Emma Vallas (S) and Justyce Jennings (L) along with juniors Holly Shriber (MH) and Emma Evans (S).
Thompson is optimistic about the season saying, “We are playing smarter than ever, and really working as a cohesive group.”
The Lady Farmers were to start the season at Knoxville on Tuesday, then enjoy a three-match homestand: vs. Lewistown Thursday, vs. North Fulton Monday and vs. Peoria Heights Tuesday.
Williamsfield
Prominent returnees from a 9-20 squad for Williamsfield in its final season as the Lady Bombers are Molly Warner and Kaitlyn Aldrich.
“Molly Warner is a well-rounded player and Kaitlyn Aldrich is a great athlete which helps,” Assistant Coach Jaime Trotter said. “We have some good girls that can hit hard. They have been playing together in the offseason and are in sync with one another.”
Williamsfield opened Wednesday at Annawan.