The Lennox High School Orioles volleyball team is gearing up for the 2024 season, coming off a landmark year that saw them make their first trip to the State Championship in 34 years, finishing eighth overall. With the ’24 season set to begin this Saturday, Aug. 31 Head Coach Vanessa Gabel shares her excitement and insights into what promises to be another competitive year for the team.
Gabel brings a wealth of experience to the LHS volleyball program. After playing college volleyball at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she coached high school teams at Eielson Air Force Base and Kenai High School in Alaska and served as a club director for Peninsula Midnight Sun Volleyball Club. Her coaching career continued at the College of the Ozarks NAIA program and various club teams in Missouri and Wyoming.
“I stopped coaching volleyball when my daughter went to play college volleyball so I could watch her play,” Gabel shared. “I started as the JV coach for Lennox in the 2022 season and moved up to varsity last year.”
Gabel is enthusiastic about the upcoming season, with many returning starters and new players filling open spots seamlessly.
“My goal as a coach is to make the team stronger than the sum of their individual parts,” Gabel said. “If I can get a nine-member team stronger than the nine players, I’ve done my job.”
Assisting Gabel this season will be JV coach Mel Gabel and C-team coach Mallory Bohr.
The Orioles will miss last year’s graduates, including outside hitter Dani Highum, who is now part of the volleyball program at University of Mary; middle blocker Carli Kuyper, now part of the basketball program at Northern State; defensive specialist Ashley Sweeter, now part of the Dordt golf program; and non-starters Kate Jackson and Ashley Bondesen.
However, the team boasts a roster of talented returning players and promising new faces.
Senior captain Lilly Meyer, who has committed to playing at Midland next year, will move from setter to libero, where her defensive skills can shine. Fellow senior captain Ella Grengs returns as a hitting setter, opening up offensive options for the team.
Grengs will be playing college volleyball next year but has not committed to a program yet. Junior Addison Martz is back as a middle blocker.
“Her attack and block have gotten very strong from her off-season training and is coming back stronger than last year,” said Gabel.
Freshman Libby Kranz will continue as an outside hitter.
“Her power and speed out of the left will be difficult for opponents to deal with. She worked this off-season and really improved her back court play and will now be playing a full six rotations for us,” added Gabel.
Gabel believes the team’s biggest strength is their aggressiveness and fearlessness.
“The girls thrive on going hard and being fearless,” Gabel explained. “They’ve spent many hours of book study and meaningful conversations on being champion teammates, and that work is translating into being fearless risk-takers because they know their teammates will always have their backs.”
The offseason was filled with training, including weight sessions, open gyms, and a four-day team camp in Nebraska. However, the team faces a good problem: having many strong defensive specialists competing for playing time.
“We have four talented back row specialists who have been working hard on the consistent serve receive that we need to run a threatening offense,” added Gabel.
When looking ahead at the schedule, the toughest competitor Gabel believes they will see is Sioux Falls Christian, who is now not only in the DAK XII with Lennox but also got moved to Lennox’s Region.
“This will make getting a bid to state numerically more difficult this year,” said Gabel.
Dakota Valley, Dell Rapids, and Canton are also expected to be formidable opponents.
One match Coach Gabel is particularly looking forward to is against Canton on Sept. 9th, a home game that promises to be highly competitive. The DAK XII tournament will also be a highlight, offering the team a chance to face many of the state’s top teams.
“That day can have extreme results: amazing wins and devastating losses,” said Gabel.
Gabel is optimistic about the upcoming season, with the team showing significant progress early on.
“Our early season has been really productive, and I feel like the girls are ready to leap forward into a tough schedule. Our goal is to return to state,” said Gabel. “There are so many things that need to happen to be able to get to that opportunity. Our primary goal is one practice at a time, one point at a time, one match at a time.”
With a strong mix of experienced leaders and eager newcomers, the Lennox Orioles are ready to take on the challenges of the 2024 season, aiming for another deep run in the state tournament.
Members of this year’s team includes (* denotes returning starter):
Seniors: Ryan Hanssen-Right side hitter; Gavyn Herlin-defensive specialist; Ella Grengs-setter; Lilly Meyer-libero; Juniors: Hannah Adney-setter; Mia Hanisch-defensive specialist; Addison Martz-middle blocker; Andie Peters-defensive specialist; Sophomores: Mallorie Bittner-middle blocker; Rylee Hedin-outside hitter; Sydney Johnson-middle blocker; Olivia Niederbaumer-right side hitter; and Freshmen: *Libby Kranz-outside hitter; Catie Sherard-setter.
The team opens up the season with a tournament in Canton this Saturday, Aug. 31. They will be at Vermillion on Sept. 3 and at a Tri-Valley on Sept. 5. Their first home game of the season will be Monday, Sept. 9 when they host Canton. They be on the road in Madison on Sept. 12. They host Elk Point Jefferson on Sept. 17 and Parkston on Sept. 19. They will compete in a tournament at Bon Home on Sept. 21. On Sept. 24 they team will host Mount Vernon/Plankinton. They will be at West Central on Sept. 26, at Tea Area on Sept. 30 and host Beresford on Tuesday, Oct. 1. They will host Dell Rapids on Oct. 3 and be at Parker on Oct. 8. On Oct. 14 they will be at Garretson and host Dakota Valley on Oct. 15. The team competes in the Conference Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19 in Vermillion. They host McCook Central/Montrose on Oct. 22 and will be at Baltic on Oct. 25. They wrap up the regular season with an away match against Sioux Falls Christian on Oct. 28. Post season action begins on Nov. 5 with the State Tournament slated for Nov. 21-23 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
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