SOUTH WAYNE – Black Hawk enters the 2020 volleyball season with plenty of talent, but three large holes to fill in the lineup.

A trio of all-conference starters and team captains from last year’s squad graduated – Maddy Huschitt, Kristen Knapp and two-time Six Rivers Player of the Year Hannah Butler. The three helped the Warriors get back on top in the conference in each of the past two seasons, and led the program into the sectional round in 2019.

“Filling the big shoes of last year’s players that lost to graduation” will be among the team’s biggest challenges, said head coach Rachel Wolff, now in her 27th year at the helm[EM1] .

Back for Black Hawk will be seniors Bailey Butler, Kaylee Marty, Makayla Mau, Macie Stauffacher, Erika [EM2] Schultz and Emily Triem, as well as sophomores Tara Wellnitz and Raylin Peterson. Bailey Butler, a UW-Green Bay basketball recruit, was a first-team all-conference selection last year and led the Warriors in kills (335) and digs (62). Stauffacher was second on the team in assists (202) and Mau was given honorable mention all-conference accolades.

“We have a decent amount of experienced players. I think this group is a very coachable bunch with a desire to continually improve,” Wolff said. “Our skills are fairly solid. I think this team is athletic. I think we also have decent hitting potential.”

A group of newcomers will push for playing time as well, including Alyssa Lange, McKenzie Quinn, Kelsey Paulson, Tatum Baumgartner, Anna Haldiman and Bailey Abney.

“I feel that this team has lots of potential,” Wolff said. “This year, with a shortened season, I think it is a matter of which team progresses quickly. Hopefully if this team puts in the time and effort early and constantly strives to improve and refine these skills – and if they develop team chemistry – they have the ability to be true competitors in our conference.”

With just a six-week schedule for the regular season – which only includes conference matches – Wolff said there isn’t much time for the team to break down a skill for a player or the team if they are struggling.

“We are pretty much relying on the skills and the conditioning that they bring to the start of the season,” Wolff said. “I feel that all the teams in the conference should be very competitive.”

The program prides itself on serving and passing consistency, and the losses of both Hannah Butler (ace leader) and Huschitt (96% serve, 366 assists) will directly impact this year’s team.

“We need to get our passes to our setter more consistently,” Wolff said of her squad’s needed improvements. “With serving, consistency is also imperative. Aggressiveness, confidence and communication – we need to read and be quicker to the ball without hesitation.”

 [EM1]regarding this year's biggest challenges?

 [EM2]Erica?