Heights spikers have high hopes

The wait is over. And Wisconsin Heights girls volleyball coach Kala O’Connell is giddy thinking about what the next six weeks could entail. The Vanguards’ season typically runs in the fall. Due to COVID-19, though, the WIAA gave teams the option of postponing fall sports to the spring, and Wisconsin Heights elected to do just that. The Vanguards’ season began last week and will run until mid-April. And after going roughly 16 months without coaching her team, O’Connell was thrilled to have everyone back in the gym. “Getting back in the gym has been great,” O’Connell said. “With the Dane County restrictions allowing for competitions, we are able to practice and scrimmage almost as we could last season. Aside from having to stand apart during water breaks or chats, we can run normal volleyball drills, which is not something we’ve been able to do in open gyms all off-season. I can tell the girls’ and my attitude has improved just being back in the gym, and knowing we have actual games on the horizon is really something to look forward to in these challenging times.” O’Connell and the Vanguards know this will be a year like no other. Roughly 75% of the teams played volleyball last fall, meaning there won’t be nearly as many scheduling options for O’Connell and the Vanguards. The Vanguards are only scheduling dual meets, meaning no invitationals. And Heights’ girls will wear masks. While all of those are an inconvenience, no one in the Vikings’ camp is complaining. “Even though our season will be shorter than usual, we’re going to make the most of it and push ourselves to do great,” O’Connell said. “We don’t know as of yet what the postseason will look like, but we know the WIAA is working on putting something together and we will as usual expect to be playing in that state game.  “Our conference is a mix of the remaining South and North teams that didn’t play in the fall, so we will play a couple of teams that we don’t normally see (Poynette and Columbus). We’re very excited, especially the seniors, that we’re able to have home games, in whatever capacity that may be. “And we’re determined not to take anything for granted and enjoy this time because we know at any moment the situation could change. I appreciate everything our administration has done to allow us to have a season and to make this an enjoyable time for our student-athletes.” Heights’ 2019 team — the last to compete for the Vanguards — was senior dominated. But Heights does have an intriguing group that will take the court this spring. Junior outside hitter Kylee Doherty will be an anchor for the Vanguards and the player they’ll build around. “Kylee will play a major role in our team,” O’Connell said. “We look to Kylee to take care of the ball, probably too much, but we know she’ll get the job done.” Senior middle hitter Riley Lynch has found a knack for moving the ball around.  “I made Riley a captain at the end of last season because she has a great attitude and can lead without being pushy,” O’Connell said. Sophomore defensive specialist Emily VanRiper is a returning contributor who looks to take her game to the next level. “She became our Libero last year after another player’s injury and did a fantastic job as a freshman stepping into a big role,” O’Connell said of VanRiper. Junior Daryn Schaefer takes over at setter after Jada Wood held that role a year ago. “She will play a major role in leading our offense and has good court sense to know when to run plays and where to put the ball,” O’Connell said of Schaefer. Sophomore outside hitter Olivia Buol has grown two inches in the past year and has a chance for terrific things. “She was very hesitant to be on varsity last year and it took some convincing,” O’Connell said of Buol. “But the more comfortable she got, the more her game improved and since then it’s just gotten better. I’m very excited to have her for three more years.” Senior right side hitter Sydnee Duhr is poised to have her best season as a Vanguard. “She does a great job at blocking the ball, even when I’m standing on a block and purposely trying to hit around her,” O’Connell said. “She’s got a great line shot on the right side that will be utilized.” Junior Ashley Mickelson is also ready for a breakthrough season. “Ashley will contribute many kills and blocks to our team,” O’Connell said. “She had a breakthrough over the summer on her approach and it was so fun to see that lightbulb moment when things worked as they’re supposed to! I’m really excited to see what she can do this season.” After the wild and wacky past year — one in which O’Connell and her team had no idea if they’d have a season — the Vanguards are simply thrilled to be playing. Now, whatever happens over the next six weeks is simply a bonus. “This last year has been a blur, yet agonizingly slow at the same time,” O’Connell said. “We went to a few tournaments up in the Dells so that was nice to get some competition and be able to do more than we could in our gym, but it was really hard to see all the teams playing this past fall and having their “normal” season and everything that goes with it, like the full three weeks of postseason.  “We have small teams this year and while that may be a struggle as times for running drills and scrimmaging, we have a great group of girls on the JV and varsity teams with good attitudes and a desire to learn and get better. They make me laugh every day and I look forward to practice after long work hours. All of the work they have been doing this off season has obviously helped and we are going to take advantage of it now that we can.”