By ELIOT SILL

Staff writer

In her 16th year with the Goessel High School volleyball program, head coach Crysta Guhr has every reason to expect excellence from her team.

The Bluebirds will lose nobody from last year’s team that placed fourth in the state class 1A tournament.

Junior Page Hiebert will be looked at to lead the squad’s offensive attack, as she was a first team all-state outside hitter as a sophomore. She and two others, outside hitter Erin Brubaker and setter Alyssa Booton, made first team all-league last season. Booton was honorable mention all-state as well.

Other returning letterwinners for the Bluebirds are seniors Gentry Thiesen and Makayla King, junior Alicen Meysing, and sophomores Olivia Duerksen and Shelbi Shultz.

After winning the Wheat State League with a league record of 7-0 last season, the Bluebirds will hope to repeat that feat. It would be the team’s fifth consecutive league title.

“Non-league and tournament play will challenge the team with strong opponents in Remington, Olpe, Wabaunsee, Halstead, and others,” Guhr said. “The team hopes to make another strong push in postseason play.”

The Bluebirds will play their first game Sept. 2 at Ell-Saline, with Elyria and Haven. The Wheat State League tournament is Oct. 18, with sub-state Oct. 25 and the state tournament Oct. 31 through Nov. 1.