Howells-Dodge falls to Stanton in Sub-Districts

The Howells-Dodge Volleyball Team saw their year come to an end Monday night as the Jaguars fell 3-1 to Stanton in the C2-5 Sub-District Semifinals at Norfolk Catholic.

The Jaguars lost set one 25-19 before taking set two 25-21 only to drop set three 25-22 and set four 25-19.

Riley Pokorny had 11 kills and 7 digs while Grace Kreikemeier recorded 10 kills. Alyssa Coufal added 8 kills and 35 set assists.

Howells-Dodge came close to winning Monday night, but couldn't quite do it.

The Jaguars end the year at 18-13.

I felt the season as a whole was a good one for Howells-Dodge.

Coufal was the team leader in set assists with 377.

Howells-Dodge says goodbye to Coufal, Kreikemeier, Taya VanLengen, and Madyson Cech.

These four seniors meant a lot to the success of Howells-Dodge Volleyball, and will be missed.

Key returners for the Jaguars include Brooklyn Macholan, Pokorny, Jayda Bazata, Lexie Brester, and Cassie Pieper.

There's a lot of talent coming back that can lead this team. Coufal will be very difficult to replace although Brester contributed a lot in the assists department as well.

I look for Howells-Dodge to be even better and more improved next year.

The Jaguars have a good core nucleus coming back, and these girls have to work hard together to achieve greatness.

I felt Howells-Dodge did a lot of nice things this year, but has a lot of work to do to get back to that elite level they were at 3-4 years ago.

The Jaguars have to put a lot of time and effort in during the offseason.

Volleyball isn't an August to November sport it's a year round deal.

Howells-Dodge's returning players and newcomers need to play the game as much as possible in the offseason and get in the weightroom often.

The Jaguars have to give up certain things to get that workout or game in.

Being successful in sports and in the classroom for that matter often leads to success in life.

So these girls have to continue to grow as young people and student athletes.

It's important to have fun and rest and all of that, but the team has to challenge and push themselves between now and next year.

The more offseason activities the returning players and newcomers take part in the more successful they are going to be in 2020.