It’s been quite a turnaround in the fortune of the Ashley volleyball program.
The Bears didn’t win a match two seasons ago. This year, they were above .500.
Casey Hilts is the coach of the team that went 21-18-4. “I’ve only been here two years, but the year before I got here, the team was 0-32,” Hilts said. “We won 14 games last year and improved to 21 this year. We’re on track.”
Being able to put a solid program in place has been the key behind the team’s success, Hilts indicated.
“We have a couple players that have really committed to playing a lot of volleyball,” said Hilts, referring to Kelsey Smith, an all-regional player as a a sophomore. “She only got better this year. She led the team with 445 kills.”
Meggan Andrews a sophomore hitter, also led the team.
Megan Siefert, a junior, played libero.
Those three girls were all-conference players along with seniors Jessica Plesko, a setter, and Kalyn Bisel, an outside hitter.
“She broke her back three year ago, played volleyball last year, and this year she started every game for us,” Hilts said.
Hilts had been an assistant coach at Alma College before coming to Ashley.
The Bears took second in an invitational at Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
“We played good consistent ball all year long,” Hilts said. “We played good defense. We’re solid on our serve receives.”
Hilts noted that girls sports have struggled at Ashley. But times have changed.
“I had 20 girls that were doing some form of volleyball almost year-round last year,” Hilts said “There’s only about 35 girls in the school. They really bought into the program.”