Staff writer
Sixteen girls are out for volleyball this year at Centre High School. The team is competing in the new Wheat State League this fall.
Head coach Yvonne Burhoop expects the team to finish “in the middle of the pack,” behind Little River, Goessel, Wakefield, and Peabody, and ahead of White City, Solomon, Hope, and Elyria.
Two seniors — Carlye Simons and Shelby Deines — who also were starters were lost to graduation, but the team has four returning starters and two other letter-winners.
They are seniors Amanda Floyd, Tori Marler, and Allison Shields; junior Theo Kassebaum; and sophomores Anna Weber and Ellie Miller.
Bryanna Svoboda, Casey Simons, and Amy Makovec are freshmen who will probably see varsity playing time. Other team members who will be vying for varsity playing time include Genesis Rudolph, Carrie Carlson, Beka Basore, and Theo Kassebaum.
According to Burhoop, the challenge will be to stay healthy and develop some of the younger players in hitting and setting.
Burhoop is beginning her 29th year at Centre. Karen Nickel is her assistant.