In a season that was interrupted by a pandemic, the Warrenton girls volleyball team finished with a record of 22-5, a conference championship, and were runners-up in districts. Coach Randy Kindschuh believes his team wound up where they expected to be prior to the season.

“I thought we would end up exactly where we did,” he said. “We had all starters and most of the key players back from the previous year and the girls were hungry for a conference and district title. One stumbling block was our annual trip to western Nebraska for a huge team camp in July was canceled due to COVID, and that put us behind as we were going to install an entirely new offense and we usually used this camp to practice for the start of our season.”

Despite missing the team camp and seven contests, several team and individual records were broken this season. These accomplishments are obviously something Kindschuh was proud to see.

“The 81 sets played over the course of the season was a new record. Our team passing average of 2.23 shattered the record of 2.08,” he said.  “We had six girls pass at 2.00 or higher, led by Alyssa Bruce’s 2.39. The 905 service points was a record and we smashed the team ace record with 336, with Abby Hammerberg breaking the single-season record of 59 with an amazing 70 aces. Our 877 team kills were 150 better than the previous record and 805 set assists by our setters was also a record.”

With so much success during the season, it did appear that the Warriors might be poised to make a run in the playoffs. Despite a fast start in district play, the season ended at the hands of the Hannibal Pirates in last Thursday’s title game.

“We started districts as the number one seed and handled Pacific easily the first round, 25-11, 25-11, and 25-23,” said Kindschuh.  “Against Hannibal, we recorded 14 aces but also missed 14 serves, usually at critical times.”

After splitting the first two sets and leading in the third set, the Warriors missed four consecutive serves and the momentum — and the set — went to Hannibal. Even so, the Warriors bounced back to win the fourth set and even that match, setting up a decisive fifth set. 

“We were 3-0 in five-set matches for the year so I was confident that we could come out on top.  The key to game five, which only goes to 15, is getting a fast start,” said Kindschuh. “Hannibal was the team to start fast, racing out to a 10-2 lead before we mounted a comeback only to lose 10-15. I felt that going into districts we would have a good chance to bring Warrenton’s first-ever district title home, however, COVID dealt us a blow taking outside hitter Josey Schipper for two weeks prior to districts, leaving her only one day to practice before playing Hannibal. Josey played surprisingly well, as did the rest of the team, but the missed serves and some fortuitous bounces for Hannibal and their all-everything outside hitter Bella Falconer brought defeat to the Warriors.”

While the Warriors have a strong group ready to step in next season, the team will definitely miss the six seniors who are graduating — a group that saw quite a bit of success this season and over the past four years. 

“Winning the conference title was definitely the high point of the season. Warrenton had its first conference champion in 1978, then waited 40 years to repeat in 2018 and now the third in 2020,” said Kindschuh. “We also won the Cuba Tournament for the fourth straight year. Sweeping our games with rival Winfield was also a highlight as well as defeating St. Charles West in five sets after losing the first two sets. This happened after we returned from a two week COVID quarantine because I had tested positive. But in reality, every game with these girls was a highlight for me, they were so competitive and hardworking and enjoyed one another both on and off the court.”

Graduating seniors include Morgan Frye, Allie Gerard,  Kassidy Haller, Jazzy McCuskey, Ashley Pullen, and Faith Wenzel.

“They all played big roles in our success,” said Kindschuh. “They will be tough to replace, but our program is getting to the point where JV squad members will be able to step in and do just fine.”