Read about some of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area's top high school girls volleyball players as the season gets under way.
State championship banners celebrating Incarnate Word’s past glory on the volleyball court fill the walls of the school’s gymnasium.
The key word now is past.
Last season, the Red Knights (31-10-1) won the Class 4 state title, their 12th state championship but first since 2005. The returners will now get to add their banner Incarnate’s volleyball tradition.
“Even last year we talked about how Incarnate has been to state through all those years, but they’ve never won it,†senior Ellie Witthaus said. “So, I think it’s really special to be the team that gets to win it.â€
Witthaus formed a potent attacking combination with fellow senior Tara Greenberry as the duo combined for 27 kills in a sweep of St. Pius X in last year’s championship match.
“We’re all hungry for another ring,†Greenberry said. “Obviously, be happy, but just never be satisfied.â€
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Raising championship banners was what coach Shane Weber, who is in his sixth year at Incarnate, envisioned when he took over the program.
“My vision was to be back in the state tournament, you know, by year four, and year three would be the perfect world to happen,†Weber said. “You know, in year four, got lucky enough to get back there, and then last year speaks for itself. So, yeah, we’re on the right path in terms of where we’re headed.â€
The program’s glory restored, this group of Red Knights has to deal with the pressure of defending a state title with most likely a much different road to the final four. Weber expects the Red Knights to be moved up to Class 5 when the Missouri State High School Activities Association releases its class and district assignments later this week.
But moving up in class doesn’t mean lowering expectations.
“It’s easy to figure out what class you’re going to fall in, what you can’t figure out what path they’re going to put you in,†Weber said. “That’s the hard part. And we have a very doable path for us if the path stays the same historically. But there’s no guarantee they won’t throw us in somewhere crazy.â€
The Red Knights players welcome the challenge.
“It just makes us work even harder, because we have a Class 5 schedule so we know what it’s like to play those teams,†Witthaus said.
The schedule kicks off with the Tournament of Champions in Gainesville, Florida, over Labor Day weekend where they will play some of the best teams in the country. Incarnate will also play in the Rockwood Invitational that features some of the top teams in the Midwest.
Incarnate has a regular season matche against Class 5 defending champion Lafayette and has added defending Illinois Class 2A champion Mater Dei to the schedule. The Red Knights took Lafayette to five sets last season.
The Red Knights will jump head first into the deep end of the pool while adjusting to a new setter after graduating All-Metro setter Sammi Bergjans. Weber said sophomore Lexi Schmid is the leader of a young crop of talented setters in the program.
“She’ll fill in and take the role as of right now and then, with all the kids we have as they develop in the program, you know, we’ll end up running a 6-2 or something potentially,†Weber said. “We’re just going to see how it plays out.â€
Another issue early on is that Incarnate will be without Greenberry for the first month of the season as she rehabs from a shoulder injury. The 6-foot-3 University of Houston recruit averaged 4.66 kills and almost a block a set last season.
“I believe in my team, and so I know they’re going to do great without me,†Greenberry said. “Obviously, it’s going to be hard, but, you know, I’ll come back stronger and better than ever, so it’s all good.â€
Witthaus, who has committed to Maryville University, averaged 3.17 kills as a junior.
Senior Sydney Clark (1.37 kills) and junior Cate McCulloch (1.36 kills) are primed to take on bigger roles. Sophomore middle hitter Bailey Hensgens won the state high jump as a freshman and is coming off a strong club season.
The strength of Incarnate lies in its ball control, which starts with a loaded and stellar back row. Allie Fuchs, Audrey Schaeffer, Ella Von Almen, Abby Jones and Kendall Stroer will all have roles on the defense.
Team chemistry will help the team navigate a tough schedule, which is designed to have the Red Knights clicking on all cylinders once postseason play rolls around.
“There’s definitely some swagger and definitely some confidence, you know, in a good way,†Weber said of his returners. “I always say confidence and cockiness is a fine line, and you got to be really careful there. We want to look the part, and we want to play the part, but we don’t want to be arrogant.â€
Greenberry knows there won’t be any easy matches for the Red Knights.
“I carry the bullseye with pride,†Greenberry said. “It’s great because, you know, people always come in on their ‘A’ game.â€
Read about some of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area's top high school girls volleyball players as the season gets under way.