Pender hoping last year's experience propels them to bigger things this season

Team: Pender

Mascot: Pendragons

Colors: Red and White

Class: C-2

Conference: East Husker 

Head Coach: Amy Ostrand (2nd season)

2019 record: 9-22 (lost to Fremont Bergan in Sub-Districts)

Returning Starters: N/A

Overview:

The Pender Volleyball Team looks to be much improved this year given all the talent they return from last year.

2nd year Head Coach Amy Ostrand tells KTIC Sports who all will and could contribute for the Pendragons this season:

Varsity

Sr.

Zoey Lehmkuhl * 

Ashley Ostrand * 

Jr.

Claire Felber *

Trista Hansen *

Caitlyn Heise  - returning from 2019 knee injury - will make a positive impact on team

So.

Jacie Bonneau

Rylie Bonneau

Brie Bruns * 

Isabelle Felber *

Kirsten Frey * 

Alyssa Geisert *

Joslynn Jewell *

Amber McCauley

Olyvia Nelson *

JV

So.

Breanna Krueger

Abbey Kubik

Allie Luedert

Kylie Sturek

Fr.

Quinn Morgan

* denotes 2019-2020 letter winners

I think having Heise back will make a huge difference for Pender this year.

I look for the Pendragons to be much improved from last year, and win more matches this season than they did last year.

Them doing that is contingent upon the coronavirus pandemic not shutting us down though.

Coach Ostrand says the girls have been very diligent in these uncertain times. "This offseason we were able to get in the gym in June and put in a lot of hard work in the gym. We attended two team camps in York and Clarkson and were very successful at both. The girls have shown a tremendous amount of heart and awesome attitudes in these uncertain times."

Hopefully we get through an entire season and things aren't disrupted by the pandemic.

Season Outlook:

Pender figures to be a much stronger team this year than they were last year.

The schedule is challenging for the Pendragons, but to be the best you have to beat the best.

Ostrand says her team has come a long ways. "Our team’s strength this year is the amount of experience we have returning. Last year we were young and had a lot to learn, the amount of growth between start of last season to today is tremendous!"

I have no doubts that Pender's hard work and dedication will pay off in a big way this season.

That is again of course if we don't get shutdown by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ostrand says the NSAA's decision to move forward with fall sports was a huge sigh of relief for the girls. "NSAA’s decision to move forward with fall sports allowed our girls to take a deep breath and focus on becoming a more competitive team. The girls are finally seeing their potential and are working each day to become a better team. This season we have to take one day at a time to become the team we know we have the ability to become."

Everything starts on September 1st when the Pendragons battle Logan View/Scribner-Snyder on the road.

The Raiders lost a lot from last year and are battling some injuries so it's simply time for Pender to get things started off on the right foot and win.

Ostrand says her team is ready to prove that they are for real. "Our Lady Pendragons are ready to compete! They are hungry for the competition and wanting to prove they are a more experienced, tougher team this season."

We'll see how things unfold for Pender this year, especially on Tuesday night.

2020 Pender Pendragons Volleyball Schedule:

09/01/20 @ Logan View/Scribner-Snyder (LVSS)

09/03-09/05 (To Be Determined) NE Nebraska Classic (2/3-Day Tournament) Wisner/Pender

09/08/20 Tri County Northeast Triangular (host: Pender)

09/08/20 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: Pender)

09/10/20 Clarkson/Leigh

09/17/20 @ Wakefield

09/22/20 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/22/20 Stanton            Triangular (host: Stanton)

09/24/20 Cedar Bluffs Triangular (host: Pender)

09/24/20 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: Pender)

09/28/20 @ Winside

09/29/20 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family

10/01/20 Tri County Northeast Triangular (host: Neligh-Oakdale)

10/01/20 Neligh-Oakdale Triangular (host: Neligh-Oakdale)

10/03-10/03 (To Be Determined) Clarkson-Leigh Tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Clarkson

10/06/20 Tekamah-Herman

10/08/20 Oakland-Craig

10/13/20 @ Homer

10/15-10/17 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament (2/3-Day Tournament) TBA

10/20/20 @ BRLD