The Raider volleyball team looks to continue the trend of 25 straight seasons above .500 with a current record of 6-3. The Raiders were picked third overall in the GPAC standings coming into this season.
Returning to the Raider front row after winning first-team all-conference honors in the 2011 season are seniors Jaci Moret and Jennie Jansen. They will bring upperclassmen leadership for the team. Other returning hitters include senior Heather Goehring, a three year starter.
“This is a real steady group,” said head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch. “They practice hard, train hard and set a good example for the rest of the team.”
Also returning to the starting lineup this season is the dynamic junior middle hitter Megan Hutson who earned All-American honors last season. Junior Jada Vander Veen, sophomores Katelyn Kragt and Emily Horstman, along with freshmen Karlie Schut and Haley Chambers provide depth up front in the Raider lineup.
Setting the pace for the team this year will be sophomore Kaitlin Floerchinger, who earned second-team all-conference honors last year.
“She’s like the quarter-back of the team,” Hutson said. “When she is on, the whole team is on.” A new setter added to the team this year, freshman Madeline Hanno, will compete for court time.
Sophomore Alexis Bart returns as libero this year for the Raiders. Juniors Nicole Jacobs and Claire Roesner round out the back row and the starting lineup. They will be looking to fill in the hole left by senior Danie Floerchinger, who injured her knee at last weekend’s tournament in California. The Raiders say they aren’t daunted by things outside their control.
“We have to worry about playing the best we can and not about the score and always be encouraging,” Huston said.
The Raiders next match-up will be tonight and tomorrow at the Eagle Invitational in Kansas City, Mo.
