By TERI TUNE
Retooling is the name of the game for one of the finest volleyball programs in the state, as Lakewood is doing some fine-tuning to its lineup this fall.
The Lady Vikings return five starters from last year, including junior Emily Kutch, senior Britteny Hilley, senior Kirstian Hilley, junior Olivia Davis, and junior Brooke Wieland.
“We are a learning team this year because we lost four seniors, including three all-state seniors, last year,” said head coach Kellie Rowland. “We have girls that have had to step into positions that they wouldn’t normally have played this season, but they are doing it. Kutch, [Kristian] Hilley, and Davis are playing in their normal spots, but [Britteny]Hilley played defense last year and has switched to playing all around this season. Wieland was a setter as a freshman but played defense last year and has switched to setter this year.”
The speed of the west side of the state is something with which Lakewood is still trying to cope.
“There has been a lot of learning and improvement going on over the last week, but we are still struggling on the west side of the state, because of the speed of the game is that much faster there,” said Rowland.
Coach Rowland is also looking to newcomers to make an impact this season.
“New to the team this year is freshman Vanessa Reynhout, and she is learning the game very quickly,” Rowland said. “Taylor Shook is a junior that is also new to the team and doing very well. They both share the middle front position, and we compete to see which one will have the most growth by the end of the year. We also have a new outside hitter that didn’t see the floor at all last year as a junior, and that’s senior Alexis Kosten. She has made the most progress and growth as a player that I have seen in all the years of coaching. She is doing outstanding.”
Lakewood’s strength seems to be in their returning experience.
“Our strength seems to be in our outside hitter Kutch. She has started for three years and brings a lot of experience and leadership to the team,” said coach Rowland. The Lady Vikings will be looking to her and her leadership this season.
Lakewood has a record of 21-9.