Colfax-Mingo’s 2012 volleyball season was one to forget. The Tigerhawks struggled to win games, let alone matches throughout the campaign. After a season that saw C-M win only one set in its first 17 matches, the Tigerhawks hope some younger blood will allow them to bounce back in 2013.
“It was really tough,” Tigerhawk head coach Brian Warrick said of last season. “One of the reasons it was so tough was because we lost Anna Baldwin, who was our best hitter in the back, to a torn ACL before the season. So, having her back, we’re already ahead of where we were.”
Despite having six seniors on the team in 2012, the Tigerhawks posted just two victories, both of which came late into the season. The good news for the Colfax-Mingo faithful is that senior Jade Lewis, who led the team in kills (128), sets (69) and blocks (22), returns to help a younger group of Tigerhawk ballers forget about 2012.
“Jade is back, and from what I’ve seen, she’s better than ever,” Warrick said. “She really stepped up for us last season.”
Kayla VanDusseldorp will be one of the other senior leaders in 2013. Her 37 kills in 2012 were fifth on the team. She picked up nine blocks as well, good for second o the team.
Juniors Rylee Thompson, Sara Lahart and Allison Teed are all a year older and should bring some fire to their games after having to drudge through the rough season that was 2012.
Thompson tied for third on the team last season with 49 kills and only 31 errors. Thompson also contributed six blocks, 69 sets and six aces. She will be asked to fill a bigger role this season with the absence of three key seniors from last year — Jessica Kolo, Sydnie Fahrney and Rebecca Jensen.
Lahart had the fourth-most digs on the team with 31 last year. Teed’s seven assists were fifth among Tigerhawk players.
“We have a very talented freshman class that should fill some of the holes left by our graduating players,” Warrick said. “We need to find some setters, because three out of our four best setters from last season are gone, but Rylee, Sara and Olivia Maggard bring some experience. Olivia really stepped up as a defensive specialist for us last season.”
The Tigerhawks begin their season Aug. 29 at Madrid.