Members of the 2017 Valmeyer High School volleyball team.

Deep postseason runs are the standard with Valmeyer High School volleyball, and the 2017 team hopes to fulfill that expectation even with a smaller program than in recent years.

“We may be small in numbers and size this year, but we make up for it with a hungry heart,” Valmeyer head coach Jenny Kohnz said. “Many of the girls played club ball in the offseason and also attended many summer tournaments.”

The Pirates return some key members of a team that went 21-15 last season with a loss in the sectional title game.

The loss of Cierra Goldschmidt to an ACL injury suffered during the softball season leaves Sam Seidel as the lone returning senior in 2017.

“Sam was second in kills for our team last year and one of the top hitters in our conference,” Kohnz said. “She will lead our offense this year​.”

The Pirates also return starting junior setter Guin Kohnz, who led the Kaskaskia Division in assists last year with 428 and had 198 points.

“This year, Guin will be running our offense on her own,” Coach Kohnz said.

Juniors Sara Andres, Kenzi Rowe-Brown and Kendra Goldschmidt all saw some varsity time last year and will be in the starting lineup this year, the coach added. Kendra Goldschmidt will see time in the libero position. Andres and Rowe-Brown will serve as middle hitters.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessie Seidel worked her way into the starting lineup last year and will play opposite her sister this year.

“Jessie and Sam will be our primary passers along with Kendra,” the coach said.

Sophomores Caitlin Crossin, Jamie Rogers and Gwen Panzau  and freshmen Tinleigh Jakimauskas and Brooke Maus could also see varsity time defensively and on the right side offense.

“One of our goals is always to win conference. It will be a little tougher this year with Red Bud joining the Kaskaskia Division of our conference,” the coach said. 

Another goal is to go far into the postseason, just like always.

“We have been training extra hard so far this season,” Jenny Kohnz said. “We want to make sure if we have those tough long matches, we are in shape.  The girls have been putting in extra running time to increase their endurance.”