The Northmor volleyball team returns a pair of All-KMAC players and two experienced seniors this season, and Coach Shelbie Wiseman hopes that they can lead the team to success in her first year at the helm for the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights are coming off a 10-14 season in which they went 6-6 in KMAC play in 2022. It was an up-and-down year that included a pair of extended losing streaks, and the team hopes to get back to the form of two years ago after what was considered within the program as an off-year.
"We are counting on Maggie Brewer, and Allison Sherrif as experienced seniors to lead our team," said Wiseman, who previously was an assistant coach at Galion for two years.
"We also are looking forward to seeing growth and leadership from Lizzie Erlsten. I have seen great strides in each of the girls this summer and am excited to see what the season brings."
Last season Erlsten had a stellar sophomore season as the Northmor setter, as she was named first-team All-KMAC, leading the team with 617 assists and 52 serving aces.
Chloe Keen was a second-team All-KMAC player and returns for her senior year. She led the team in kills last year with 251 and also posted 202 digs and 36 blocks. Brewer had 77 kills, 71 digs and 55 blocks while Sherrif had 35 digs and 10 aces from the serving line.
Wiseman said that she has seen growth from all of the girls this summer and at camp, noting that two who stood out were Briez Abrams and Layla Castle.
"This year we are excited to build off of the previous success that the program has had," said Wiseman. "The girls have committed to putting in the work this summer and continue to push and get better each and every day. We spent the summer building a foundation with the girls and where we are as a team. The girls have set goals for this team that we hope to reach with the talent that this program has."
The biggest loss of the season is Amanda Kincaid, who was named first-team All-KMAC with a team-high 116 blocks to go with 158 kills, 27 aces and 41 digs. Maddy Blunk, who was an honorable mention, will also be missed. She led the team with 259 digs and had 134 kills. Emily Zeger will also need to be replaced, as she was second on the team with 225 digs.
Northmor hosts Centerburg on August 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the first match of the season. They then host Seneca East on August 24 at 6:30 p.m. and then Lucas on August 26 at 10 a.m.
