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NewsTribune 2026 volleyball preview capsules · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: News Tribune twenty twenty six volleyball preview capsules written by
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  Speaker 1: Kevin Schlum and Clark Touscher. This article is being read
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  Speaker 1: by an automated voice brought to you by Everlett. With
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  Speaker 1: the volleyball season just getting underway, here's a look at
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  Speaker 1: the Mendota Bureau, Valley Henry Sennaquine, Earlville and Fieldcrest volleyball teams.
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  Speaker 1: Mendoda coach Demi Salazar last year's record six twenty eight,
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  Speaker 1: one zero ten three Rivers East. Top returning players Maria
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  Speaker 1: Elam sr, Mhziia Eskdal Junior, l Harlow Fulty SRMH, Eliana Coke,
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  Speaker 1: sr O, Kate Strauss SRS, Eva beats So, s Abby Dlaoso,
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  Speaker 1: Carly Oregon Junior. Top newcomers Elcia dankso oshr s Riley
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  Speaker 1: Erlinborn so O, Carson DOYLESO slash Ress, Laurali Thompson So
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  Speaker 1: deep Worth noting the Spikers return a strong group of
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  Speaker 1: hitters for Salasar's third season leading the program. Elam, who
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  Speaker 1: Salazar called a power hitter, led the area in blocks
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  Speaker 1: last season and was top ten in kills. Foulty and
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  Speaker 1: Coke are three year starters. Salazar said, De Lao and
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  Speaker 1: Coke will contribute as well. We can hit it all positions.
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  Speaker 1: Salasar said, in my third year here, we still have
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  Speaker 1: some defensive improvements to work on, but our offense is
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  Speaker 1: ahead of schedule. We're breaking in some things we used
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  Speaker 1: at Hall and other places I've coached. The kids have
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  Speaker 1: responded super well. Following that molds speeding up offense. If
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  Speaker 1: we can achieve that, we will have a really good year.
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  Speaker 1: Escatel is in her third season as the team's Libuau.
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  Speaker 1: Carly Oregon also will contribute in the back row. Salazar
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  Speaker 1: is looking for improvement this season. If they play up
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  Speaker 1: to their potential, I'm sure they will make their mark.
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  Speaker 1: Salazar said, our goal was within three years to have
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  Speaker 1: three teams with winning records. The first year we had one.
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  Speaker 1: Last year we had two. So our goal is to
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  Speaker 1: have three teams this year with winning records. Bureau Valley
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  Speaker 1: coach Sage Allison. Last year's record fifteen seventeen overall, eight
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  Speaker 1: four Lincoln Trail. Top returning players Libby Andres, sr s. Brindley, Doty, Junior,
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  Speaker 1: O Jmeia Ship Junior MH. Top newcomers Sierra Taylor SR.
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  Speaker 1: Maggie Bessler, Natalie Edlifson Sr. Worth noting the Storm will
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  Speaker 1: rely on strong senior leadership along with a solid junior class.
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  Speaker 1: With several returning varsity players, they're creating the environment they
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  Speaker 1: want to be a part of, which is huge, said Allison,
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  Speaker 1: who is entering her fourth season. I think an athlete
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  Speaker 1: led program has the chance for the most success, and
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  Speaker 1: I think we're finally getting there. Last year's seniors really
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  Speaker 1: started that, and this year's seniors are continuing with the
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  Speaker 1: same mentality. Endres will be among the team's leader at cetter.
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  Speaker 1: She had two hundred ninety one assists, two hundred forty
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  Speaker 1: six digs and ninety one kills last year. Dody two
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  Speaker 1: hundred thirty one kills, one fifteen digs and Ship one
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  Speaker 1: thirty five kills sixty five blocks also played big roles
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  Speaker 1: last year. After three straight seasons near point five zero zero,
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  Speaker 1: the Storm are looking to improve as a program. I
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  Speaker 1: think we're still hungry for some success, Allison said. Their goal.
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  Speaker 1: My goal is their coach, and I think everybody's goal
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  Speaker 1: is to make their mark permanently in the gym. We're
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  Speaker 1: working every single day inside and outside the gym to
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  Speaker 1: get a banner hung in the storm Cellar. Earlville coach
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  Speaker 1: Tonya Sharer. Last year's finish twenty one thirteen six three
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  Speaker 1: Little ten Top returning players Addie Scharer Sr. J c
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  Speaker 1: Helgeson Sr. Peyton Actus Sr, Kylie FRENZIESSR, Audrey Shearer Junior,
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  Speaker 1: Liz Vazquez Sr. Top newcomers Riley Hill Sr, Kylie Helgson Sr.
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  Speaker 1: Savanna Lawton Junior, Riley Collins Junior Ava Wiland so Worth
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  Speaker 1: noting the Red Raiders returned nearly their entire starting lineup
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  Speaker 1: from the twenty twenty five team that advanced to a
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  Speaker 1: regional semifinal. J. C Helgeson was Earlville's leader in ASIS
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  Speaker 1: fifty four a season ago, while Liz Vasquez recorded a
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  Speaker 1: team best three seventy one digs and Audrey Shear and
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  Speaker 1: Peyton Actis shared duties, et cetera. With five starters and
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  Speaker 1: our liberal returning, we need to fill an outside hitter
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  Speaker 1: position and a middle hitter position, coach Tanya Scherer said.
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  Speaker 1: Last year we struggled at times with our block. We
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  Speaker 1: will be working on that to make it easier on
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  Speaker 1: our back row. Henry Senequine coach Hope Vincent last year's
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  Speaker 1: record twenty nine to six overall, seven to two, Tri
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  Speaker 1: County Top returning players Brenda Anderson Sr. Grace Anderson SRS,
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  Speaker 1: Grace Duke so mh Emma Gaspardo Junior, mh Audrey Chambers Junior.
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  Speaker 1: Top newcomers Elena Sprague so DS, Bella Williams Junior, RS.
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  Speaker 1: Worth Noting the Mallards graduated seven seniors from last year's
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  Speaker 1: twenty nine win team, including Tri County Conference Player of
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  Speaker 1: the Year Harper Shrock and TCC Defensive Player of the
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  Speaker 1: Year Taylor Frawley. I am excited to see what this
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  Speaker 1: group can become, Vincent said. We have a good mix
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  Speaker 1: of experienced seniors and younger athletes taking on significant varsity roles.
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  Speaker 1: There will be growth that has to happen throughout the season,
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  Speaker 1: and our focus will be on competing with confidence and
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  Speaker 1: continuing to develop as a team. Brenna Anderson will focus
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  Speaker 1: on outside hitter this season after splitting time between outside
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  Speaker 1: hitter and setter last fall, while Grace Anderson will be
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  Speaker 1: Henry's primary setter. Both bring valuable varsity leadership that will
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  Speaker 1: be incredibly important to this young team. Vincent said, Duke
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  Speaker 1: and Gaspardo will step into larger roles in the middle,
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  Speaker 1: while Audrey Chambers will make an impact on the outside.
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  Speaker 1: Williams is expected to be a contributor at right side hitter.
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  Speaker 1: We expect our offense to be diverse, providing us more
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  Speaker 1: competitive options, Vincent said. Sprague and Seen seniors Addison Hollocker
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  Speaker 1: and Miley Bischler will be in the back row. Our
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  Speaker 1: defense will be an area that we continue to develop
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  Speaker 1: throughout the season, Vincent said. We have some new players
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  Speaker 1: stepping into larger defensive roles that will help set the
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  Speaker 1: tone for our team. We are still exploring our options
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  Speaker 1: at libero and determining the combinations that give us the
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  Speaker 1: strongest defensive lineup Fieldcrest coach Gray we see Schultz last
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  Speaker 1: year's record sixteen seventeen, two five seven Heart of Illinois
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  Speaker 1: Top returning players Kalanie Armstrong, sr. Mh Terrylnn Timmerman, sr.
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  Speaker 1: Oh Top newcomers Claire for us so s, Leah armso
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  Speaker 1: lds Ivery, Bryant so oh Worth noting Schultz takes over
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  Speaker 1: the Knights, replacing longtime coach Kathy Sanders. She takes over
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  Speaker 1: a team that played in a regional final last season.
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  Speaker 1: Schultz expects the Knights to have a strong defense with
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  Speaker 1: Arms and Caitlin Palm in the back row. Our girls
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  Speaker 1: go all out for every ball and have great instincts
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  Speaker 1: when it comes to ready hitters and reacting. Schultz said,
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  Speaker 1: defense wins championships. We also made huge gains and serve
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  Speaker 1: received this summer. The Knights hope to run a faster
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  Speaker 1: tempo on offense and build a strong setter hitter. Connection
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  Speaker 1: Armstrong returns as a six rotation middle who averaged one
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  Speaker 1: point three to six kills per set last year, while
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  Speaker 1: Timmerman is back as a six rotation outside hitter. Middle
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  Speaker 1: hitter Jersey Modro and Bryant on the outside also will contribute.
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  Speaker 1: Forrest and Alyssa Himbaugh will be the team setters. Our
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  Speaker 1: girls need more reps, hitting off consistent sets and making
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  Speaker 1: in game decisions to find ways to score, Shultz said.
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  Speaker 1: The Knights look to contend for a regional title. Schultz
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  Speaker 1: said note Deep will play a JV's schedule due to
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  Speaker 1: low numbers