Team: Clarkson-Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, and Gray
Class: D-1
Head Coach: Becky Schneider (6th season) (51-155 career record)
2016 record: 17-15
Returning Starters: 4
Overview:
The Clarkson-Leigh volleyball team is coming off a 2016 campaign that saw them finish 17-15 overall and in the second round of the D1-4 Subdistrict tournament.
Head coach Becky Schneider said the team accomplished its goal of finishing with a winning record, and looks to expand on that for this season. "Last season went really well. We were really impressed with how our girls handled some of the games that we went into. We had a winning record, which was one of our goals as a team," Schneider said. "Coming off of that and going into this season, we look to do the same thing, if not increase our wins. We bring back five starters, so we only lost the one starter. We bring a lot of experience, so hopefully we can increase our victories."
The Patriots not only return five starters from last season, but also bring a solid number of upperclassmen back, with seven juniors and one senior. "Starting setter Kaegen Held, and then starting middle is Hannah Kasik (5'11, M JR), we have our right side Sara McEvoy (5'8, RS JR), outside Beth Wiese (5'10, OS JR), and then our libero Halee Steffensmeier (5'4 L JR)," Schneider said. "And then we look to fill with the DS Holly Kuhr (5'4, DS JR), another middle Sydney Folken (6'1 M SR), our outside that we've replaced is Paige Moore (5'9, OH JR). She's done a phenomenal job kind of replacing our lost outside from last year."
The Patriots have 27 total players out for volleyball this year.
Schneider adds Clarkson/Leigh has a lot of varsity experience and depth, and I think that makes the Patriots one of the top contenders in the East Husker Conference, and in their Subdistrict, in my opinion.
These girls that were just freshmen and sophomores are now juniors, and it's time for the Patriots to have a great season.
These next two years of Clarkson/Leigh Volleyball should be two great seasons for the Patriots. This junior class is loaded, and I look for the Patriots to be a factor in both the East Husker Conference Tournament and the postseason these next couple of years at least.
The time to win is now for Clarkson/Leigh, and expectations couldn't be any higher.
Exciting times for the Patriots if you ask me.
Season Outlook:
After finishing last season at 17-15 overall, Schneider says a familiar schedule could benefit the Patriots this year. "Our schedule is pretty much the same," Schneider said. "I think we've got a good shot at winning a lot of those games. I know there's still some teams that have great competition and we're gonna be ready for them."
The Patriots open this season against Stanton and Madison in the Stanton Triangular on August 31st.
Clarkson/Leigh improved their win total from 11 in 2015 to 17 in 2016, and I look for the Patriots to win over 20 matches this season.
I really think Clarkson/Leigh has a chance to have a big season, and make state if they can get to a district final.
GACC figures to still be very tough, but there's no reason why the Patriots can't knock them off and earn a spot in the district final. If Clarkson/Leigh can't get past the Bluejays...a wildcard could also be a possibility.
The Patriots are in Subdistrict D1-4 with GACC, Pender, and Walthill.
Schneider says her team is full of seasoned veterans. We return 5 varsity starters. We have a very well-rounded group of girls who have played a lot together and we have a lot of experience at the varsity level. We also have depth which gives us options."
I think it's definitely a situation where if one girl is struggling another can come in and pick up the slack.
The Patriots are built to win, and built to win now, and if a certain girl is struggling I don't think Clarkson/Leigh should be afraid to go to their bench.
The Patriots have to play team first volleyball, and have a "we" attitude rather than "I."
With that said, I look for these girls to get along tremendously as they've all been playing together for quite a while now.
Having that familiarity and continuity should help Clarkson/Leigh have a successful season this year.
There's no reason to think the Patriots won't do nice things and have a good season.
Clarkson/Leigh can definitely be a factor in the conference tournament and postseason this year, but the Patriots have to bring their best night in and night out.
Clarkson/Leigh can't take any nights off if they hope to achieve their dreams and goals this year.
2017 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Volleyball Schedule:
08/31/17 Madison Triangular (host: Stanton)
08/31/17 Stanton Triangular (host: Stanton)
09/05/17 BRLD
09/12/17 @ Scribner-Snyder
09/14/17 High Plains Community Triangular (host: Clarkson/Leigh)
09/14/17 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Triangular (host: Clarkson/Leigh)
09/16-09/16 (To Be Determined) Stanton Tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Stanton
09/19/17 Twin River
09/23-09/23 (To Be Determined) Hampton Tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Hampton
09/26/17 Logan View
09/30-09/30 (To Be Determined) Clarkson-Leigh Tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Clarkson
10/03/17 Lutheran High Northeast Triangular (host: Lutheran High Northeast)
10/03/17 Shelby/Rising City Triangular (host: Lutheran High Northeast)
10/05/17 @ Humphrey St. Francis
10/07 (To Be Determined) Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Tournament (4-Team Round Robin) Humphrey
10/12-10/14 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament (2/3-Day Tournament) Logan View/Logan View High School
10/17/17 Oakland-Craig
10/19/17 @ Mead
10/23/17 Pender
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