Greenwood volleyball team starts season under new leadership

By Valorie Brecht In prep sports, a team can change drastically from one year to the next, as seniors graduate and new, eager freshmen join the team. However, this year the Greenwood High School varsity volleyball team looks different in another way, as a coach who’s been a mainstay of the program for many years has stepped down. Jenni Mayenschein served as head coach for about 30 years. After she decided not to continue coaching, Jenny Hinker stepped in to take her place.

Hinker coached at Colby High School for “three or four years” and has coached JV and C team at Greenwood for several years. She said she is grateful for Mayenschein’s legacy and also excited for what the season will hold.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. There are four seniors on the team that are returners: Kayla Grambsch, Addison Davidson, Karsyn Pink and Bria Thomas. Foreign exchange student Eliska Louckova is also a senior. Grambsch will be playing middle, as will sophomore Faith Kolano. Davidson will be the team’s setter. Penk will be a hitter. Thomas will also be a hitter, as well as a fill-in setter. Rounding out the starting rotation are junior Liv Lucas, an outside hitter; freshman Brooklyn Sladich, the libero (defensive specialist); and freshman Avery Travis, another hitter. Sophomore Neela Baehr will be a backup setter.

“We have a fairly young team, so I’m excited for this year but also for future seasons as we continue to build and have some young blood coming up,” said Hinker.

As of last week, she was still playing around with the rotation and figuring out where exactly everyone would fit.

So far, practice has been focused on fundamentals. With about 18 girls in the program, everyone has been able to get a lot of repetitions in. Hinker has been pleased with the girls’ effort, with at least five girls showing up early to practice to work on specific skills and others staying late.

“I’m really excited about this team, as far as the work ethic they’re putting in,” said Hinker.

“Also, sometimes when you have a group of high school girls, you have drama. But there’s no drama with this group. They all work together well.”

Aspen Hagen will serve as the JV coach. She played varsity volleyball for Loyal High School in recent years.

“It’s Aspen’s first year coaching. So she’s excited; I’m excited — I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Members of the Greenwood volleyball team are (front from left) Addison Davidson, Brooklyn Sladich, Riley Englebretson, (second row) Neela Baehr, Liv Lucas, Allison Moline, Elizabeth Grambsch, Addy Bieneck, Raeann Osborne, (back) Faith Kolano, Avery Travis, Nyah La Mont, Bria Thomas, Kayla Grambsch, Karsyn Penk and Eliska Louckova. Arianna Lettera and Madison Stieglitz are not pictured.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO