~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
With three All Conference players returning to the Greene County Volleyball Team, Coach Chris Heisterkamp is optimistic about the upcoming season. The Rams have four additional letterwinners to boost the line-up in 2022.
Three seniors will lead the Rams on the court. Bella Schroeder, a middle hitter, was a first team All Conference selection as a junior. Joining her are Katrina Heupel, libero, a second team pick, and honorable mention Natalie Heupel at setter.
Returning letterwinners are Alexia Peters, senior, defensive specialist, and juniors Kaylee Stalder, outside hitter, and Graci Cooklin, defensive specialist. Sophomore Emma Shipley, a middle hitter, is a team member but is recovering from an injury. Also expected to see action are Ashlynn Hinners, senior hitter, and Payton Kokenge, sophomore, middle hitter.
“Seven out of the nine girls in our rotation played competitive volleyball in the off-season,” said Heisterkamp. “That extra season of game experience is showing. We only graduated one starting senior from last year, so the reconnection on the court has been easy and natural thus far.
“So far this season, our passing has been noticeably better, setting has been more consistent and faster paced, and hitting is significantly stronger,” praised Heisterkamp. “We have been working on serving tough, and so far during our preseason scrimmages, that also is proving to be a strength.”
The Rams finished in fourth place in the Heart of Iowa Conference in 2021 behind Roland-Story, Nevada and West Marshall. “We would like to move up in the conference,” said Heisterkamp. “We think we have a good chance at taking one of those teams out this year.”
Heisterkamp is in her fifth year as the head coach of Greene County. Last year’s record was 16-13. It was the first winning volleyball season since 2011.
“So far, this has been the best start to a season that I can remember,” concluded Heisterkamp.
The Rams hosted South Central Calhoun in a scrimmage on Aug. 18 and challenged Kuemper Catholic on Aug.20.
The season officially got underway at Collins-Maxwell on Tuesday, August 23, facing the host school and Glidden-Ralston. The Rams travel to Fort Dodge to challenge St Edmond on Thursday, Aug. 25. The Rams host Kuemper Catholic and Boone on Monday, Aug. 29, followed by a trip to Panora on Tuesday to battle South Central Calhoun and Panorama. Then they take a break, with the next contest not scheduled until Sept. 8.
