With a jamboree on the preseason schedule this week, the Wayne High volleyball season will officially open on August 29.
Blue Devil volleyball will be made up of around 20 members with one senior being Amelia Legler.
Nichelle Daum will be entering her fifth year with the Wayne High volleyball program and third year as the head coach.
Coach Daum said the first week the team spent a lot of time on fundamentals of volleyball.
“A lot of serve-receive, really focusing in on that because that leads to everything else,” said Daum. “We spent a lot of time working position-work which is something that I’ve changed a little bit into my practices. A lot of on serving and then communication has been a big thing that the girls wanted to focus on.”
Returning assistants will be Makenna Nelson and Vicki Smith.
Wayne volleyball also attended a couple Wayne State camps.
“I host a team camp at the beginning of July at the CAC and the elementary this year since the high school couldn’t be used,” Daum added. “Then I take my varsity to USD (Vermillion, SD) and that was a two-day camp at the end of July.”
Wayne High finished 12-18 last season after playing only three home matches. This year, the Blue Devils will have over 10 home matches include a trio of home triangulars and a home tournament.
The lone senior is Amelia Legler who was a starting middle as coach Daum will be looking for her varsity experience.
Coach Daum also highlighted a trio of juniors returning with playing experience.
“Being Elle Powicki, she was an outside hitter for us along with Haley Kramer who was also an outside and she was a six rotational player,” Daum mentioned. “Then Jacen Hasemann played a little bit in the back row for us.”
Sophomores Mallory Redden as the setter and Alexis Legler will return as a right-side hitter.
Wayne High volleyball needed to fill a six-rotational outside and libero.
The Blue Devils will compete in the 2024 Hall of Fame Volleyball Jamboree on Thursday, August 22 hosted by Wisner-Pilger. Each of the two matches will consist of two sets to 25 with a cap of 30.
Coach Daum said the first goal that almost all of the returners highlighted was to finish games.
“I took that as win the next game,” said Daum. “So, always winning that next game, looking forward to that next one and taking it essentially one day, one game at a time.”
The fall season will open on Thursday, Aug. 29 for Wayne High hosting Ponca at 7:30 p.m. for the varsity match.
