Team: Pender
Mascot: Pendragons
Colors: Red and White
Class: D-1
Head Coach: Amy Ostrand (1st season)
2018 record: 7-23
Returning Starters: 2
Overview:
The Pender Volleyball Team returns two starters from last year's 7-23 team. 1st year Head Coach Amy Ostrand says returners include Ashley Ostrand, Zoey Lehmkuhl, Trista Hansen, and Caitlyn Heise (is out for season with injury.
I think losing Heise for the year is a major blow as she was a very talented freshman for the Pendragons last season.
Others who could contribute include Mercede Roberts, Olyvia Nelsen, Joslynn Jewell, Rylie Bonneau, and Kirsten Frey, according to Coach Ostrand.
Ostrand is assisted by former Husker Allie Havers, and others. "I have an awesome coaching staff - Paula Bonneau is my assistant and Melyssa Schroeder and Allie Havers are my volunteers! The girls have put in a lot of time this summer working on the fundamentals, and we brought in USD and WSC for skills camp in June and July."
These coaches will lead a lot of young and talented players. Ostrand says this year's team has a lot of youth. "We are a very young team - 3 juniors (which two of them were starters last year), 3 sophomores (which one is out with injury for season), 13 freshman, and 1 senior who is a foreign exchange student."
I feel this season could be a bit of a rebuilding year for Pender, but feel things will only get brighter in the future.
I look for Ashley Ostrand, Zoey Lehmkuhl, and Trista Hansen to be the leaders of this team.
If Heise was there that would make this team that much better I feel.
I think the Pendragons will really miss her this year.
Pender also lost quite a few seniors last year as Kaylin Sandall, Brittni Beckman, Rylee Lehmkuhl, Carley Hofmeister, Sadie Lamplot, and Sarah Krueger all graduated.
The Pendragons said goodbye to quite a few talented seniors a season ago, and replacing them isn't and won't be easy.
I feel the pieces are in place for Pender to be successful in the long run and long term, but as far as immediate success I just feel it could take some time for this program to get to where it wants to be.
I have no doubts the Pendragons will get there and be a force to be reckoned with in the future so this is an important laying a foundation year for Pender so to speak.
This is a big and crucial year for future success for the Pendragons.
Season Outlook:
Pender is looking for good things this year after finishing with single digit wins in each of the last two seasons. Ostrand says there's a lot of positives going for the team right now. "We are working on building confidence, skills, communication and the drive to win. I am very excited to see where this team will lead us because I see great things happening every day!"
I feel teams like Emerson-Hubbard, Cedar Bluffs, Winside, Homer, and maybe even Neligh-Oakdale are Pender's best chances at wins.
Going up against teams like Stanton, Wisner-Pilger, Howells-Dodge, Clarkson/Leigh, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Tekamah-Herman, and Oakland-Craig figure to be challenging as those are bigger schools with the exception of HLHF.
I feel this team has the potential to get to double digit wins this year, and that would be huge for sure.
I felt this program made strides from 2017 to 2018 and feel more strides can be made this season.
I don't know about having a winning record or winning the conference, but perhaps the Pendragons can go out there and surprise some people and turn some heads.
Pender opens up the season with the Northeast Nebraska Classic on September 5th.
I'm not sure who the Pendragons play or open up with, but it will be in Pender.
I think not having played a match prior to that classic could actually hurt the Pendragons some.
I think having already played a match would of helped Pender heading into that tournament having had a chance to watch film and play a match prior to the tournament.
With that said, I think the extra practice time is good for this young team.
I feel the Pendragons will play a lot better in this tournament than they would have in another match to start the year given the extra practice time.
Starting off with one of the teams I mentioned above as teams I feel Pender can beat would of been good for confidence perhaps, but it is what it is.
The Pendragons have to make the most of their extra practice time, and come ready to play come next Thursday.
A lot of progress and strides can be made for Pender this year I don't think there's any doubt about that.
2019 Pender Pendragons Volleyball Schedule:
09/05-09/07 (To Be Determined) Northeast Nebraska Classic (2/3-Day Tournament) Wisner-Pilger/Pender
09/10/19 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: Howells-Dodge)
09/10/19 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: Howells-Dodge)
09/12/19 @ Clarkson/Leigh
09/17/19 Logan View/Scribner-Snyder (LVSS)
09/19/19 Wakefield-Allen
09/24/19 Stanton Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
09/24/19 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
09/26/19 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: Cedar Bluffs)
09/26/19 Cedar Bluffs Triangular (host: Cedar Bluffs)
09/30/19 Winside
10/01/19 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
10/03/19 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: Emerson-Hubbard)
10/03/19 Neligh-Oakdale Triangular (host: Emerson-Hubbard)
10/05-10/05 (To Be Determined) Clarkson-Leigh Invite (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Clarkson
10/08/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
10/10/19 @ Oakland-Craig
10/15/19 Homer
10/22/19 BRLD
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