Season Preview: 1A DII Volleyball

The argument could be made that Hanover's Class 1A Division II state volleyball championship caught people by surprise a year ago.

For good reason.

The title was the first for the program since 1979, ending a drought of more than four decades. And coming off a 19-17 season in 2019 with a roster made up largely of underclassmen, the Wildcats didn't exactly have the sure-fire look of a championship-caliber team.

At least to the outside. For Wildcat coach Melissa Holle, however, the outlook was somewhat different.

"I felt it was attainable for this team," she said. "This team, the athleticism, I've never had a team that has so much on it. We've preached to the girls that we have to use the tools and talents that we have and they really came together last year to do that."

Indeed, Hanover quickly transformed into a championship team. Hardened by the rigors of their Twin Valley League schedule, the Wildcats put together a 34-6 season capped with a 25-18, 25-19 win over Attica in the championship match.

"We put the pieces together when we needed to," Holle said. "Everybody did their job and did what they're supposed to do and we were successful because of that."

This season, expectations from the outside will match those within the program. Graduation claimed only two players off last year's title team, both of whom played complementary roles.

Few teams in the state in any class return as much as Hanover does in 2021.

The Wildcats had a trio of first-team All-Class 1A Division II selections in Ceegan Atkins, Avery Behrends and Madison Bruna with Atkins named player of the year in the classification after recording 331 kills her sophomore season. Allison Jueneman was an honorable mention All-1A I selection as well.

With every player who recorded a kill a year ago back, Hanover will have a huge target on its back. But it's one Holle said her team has embraced and used as fuel during the offseason.

"The first thing we talked about the first week of practice is everyone is out to get you now," she said. "In the past, we didn't have that target on our back. There's a hunger the girls came in with. They want to be better than what they were last year. Throughout the entire two weeks of practice, that's what they've shown me. They don't care who they come across; they know it's going to be a battle no matter what but they're willing to do what they need to do to get the job done.

"I think everybody has come in with really good attitudes from the first day of practice. I know the girls are ready to go. We're excited having everybody back and we're excited to really grow as a team and fix the little things we need to fix to make it an even better season than it was last year."

And yes, it can get better for Hanover. Even though the Wildcats were state champions a year, they weren't league champions. Valley Heights swept both crowns, handing Hanover two of its six losses.

In fact, five of the Wildcats' six losses came to league foes (Linn twice, Centralia). And though they stung at the time, Holle said the battles played no small role in their run to the state title.

"It played a huge factor," she said. "I give our league a lot of credit for pushing the girls and making us better. There are so many dynamic teams in this league. It is tough. It's not easy to get through this league and that's one thing that really benefitted us once we got to the postseason is that we had seen that tough competition and played it week after week, and it prepared us."

Last year's runner-up, Attica graduated three of its four players who earned All-Class 1A Division II honors but return senior setter/hitter Tamara Lozoya.

Wheatland-Grinnell could be Hanover's top challenger, returning a pair of All-1A II picks in senior outside hitter Livia Schultz (first team) and senior setter Anna Godek (second team). The Thunderhawks were fourth at state last year, falling to Hutchinson Central Christian in the consolation final.

Central Christian was the only team to take a set off Hanover at last year's state tournament and graduated standout Madeline Boman, but returns second-team All-1A II pick Samantha Ramsey.

Golden Plains is loaded with returners led by second-team All-1A II pick Kassie Miller, while Linn returns standout senior hitter Kyrah Peters from last year's team that knocked off Hanover twice.