By Chris Parker

Fall 2019 Preview: Winona Volleyball

By Chris Parker

To say the 2018 season was an outlier for Winona volleyball would be an understatement. The Lady Wildcats finished below .500 for the first time in more than a decade. Despite the down year, Winona finished one set away from winning a district title.

“Our record was below .500 but if you look at the scores we almost won every game we lost. We were so close in right there but losing those kinds of tight games again and again really gets to you,” Winona head coach Francie McBride said. “I had a very competitive group last year who were right on the cusp of great things at the end of the season so it was tough to take for all of us but I feel like we have to let that season go and not look back. We are focusing on our tradition and what our program does which is to strive to compete at the highest level against whatever competition we come up against. We always have a very strong schedule which can sometimes make our record look weak but we count on that adversity to get us where we want to be in November.”

Senior Teah Thompson will be a team leader this year. She had 240 kills last season, and is the only returning player who had more than 31 kills in 2018.

“I am anticipating great things from Teah this season. She will lead our offense and is a very capable defensive player as well,” McBride said. “Teah will play a huge leadership role. She is a very dedicated and disciplined athlete and her teammates and I have both witnessed that discipline year round in how she trains and prepares and she will have the respect of her teammates without a doubt.”

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Sophomore Cloey Asplin had a strong freshman season that saw her lead the team with 569 assists.

“We ran a 5-1 with her (last season) and she grew so much as a setter throughout the season as well as during her club season so I have great expectations for her this year. She’s not only improved her skill level but also I feel will step up in a large leadership role,” McBride said. “Cloey has worked extremely hard during the off season playing club ball with Thr33 as well has putting in a large amount of time going to camps and getting additional setter’s training on her own and it is paying off; I’m very excited to see what she adds to our team this fall.”

Cheyanne Wallace is a senior defensive player that will be on the floor for Winona. Nevaeh Malloway is a freshman left-handed hitter that will be a player to watch for Winona.

“She (Malloway) is an outstanding athlete who will play all the way around for me and will be formidable in all positions. I have great expectations for her and she will bring a fun dynamic to our team. She is full of energy and love for the game,” McBride said.

Autumn Fitzanko is a sophomore who will play front row for Winona. The rest of the team will be made up of freshmen.

“I think we will be scrappy and play really hard and full of fire,” McBride said. “We know we are young so we are hoping to have a great chemistry to gain in strength.”

McBride sees all the pieces of a final four team in her 2019 squad.

“I fully believe that if we stay healthy and focus on our team and individual goals we can be a final four team this season. I believe in our program’s history and tradition and I know these girls want to avenge last season’s ending,” McBride said.

Winona will travel to Eminence on Aug. 23 for a jamboree with the host Lady Redwings, Bernie and Leterville. The Lady Wildcats open the season on Sept. 5 at Licking.