Young ‘Jays look to continue improving

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens varsity volleyball team might be rebuilding this season but head coach Tanille Hartwig has kept the program’s expectations the same as they were last season.

“We will not lower our expectations as we walk into a gym,” she said. “Our goal is to grow as a team, work hard and fight for every win we can get.”

This is Hartwig’s eighth year as Athens’ head volleyball coach. Kathy Luther is her assistant coach again this season.

Athens lost a lot of talent from last year’s team that had a 30-12 match record after losing 3-1 to No. 1 seed Marshfield Columbus in a WIAA road sectional semifinal match.

The Bluejays lost their best player, who is the head coach’s oldest daughter Jazelle Hartwig. She was a unanimous first team all-Marawood Conference volleyball player who achieved over 1,000 career kills, assists and digs. Jazelle Hartwig shared the Marawood North Conference Player of the Year honors with Prentice junior Kali Heikkinen. Athens also lost the Coker twins to graduation in spring. Sophia Coker earned second team all-Marawood North Conference and Sydney Coker was honorable mention all-conference last season.

“We did graduate six girls from last year’s team and their experience is missed in the gym,” Tanille Hartwig said. “We have three varsity returners this season. Junior Sy’Rih Hartwig is returning as a middle hitter. Sophomore Karly Eckert was our libero last year but she will be filling the roles of setter and left side hitter this season. Senior Bailey Hanke will be our right side hitter again this season. New starters, at this point, are Autumn Diethelm, Jaelin Switlick, Ayva Haehlke (front row), Jaci Hart (back row) and Vanessa Espinoza.”

Tanille Hartwig said her young team is experiencing some early-season challenges as was expected this season.

“The speed of the game is currently our biggest challenge,” she said. “Three girls in our staring lineup are coming straight from the eighth grade level and two are coming from the JV level. Adjusting to the varsity speed of play will happen, however, it is going to take game experience and determination from the girls.”

Athens lost, 2-1, in its match to Marshfield Columbus on Aug. 27. Tanille Hartwig said she’s not concerned right now on finding a way to beat the Dons, who the Bluejays are likely to see in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs this season.

“Honestly, I am not focusing on any other team in particular except ourselves,” she said. “We need to continue working hard every day at practice and working on the parts of our game that will get us to the next level. Being a ‘young’ team with limited experience, we need to focus on the individual and team skills that will help us grow throughout the next couple months to prepare for the postseason.”

Tanille Hartwig explains her team’s motto this season.

“Our quote this year is, “It’s not how big you are, it’s how big you play,” she said. “We have a total of 13 athletes out for volleyball this year, Our girls have embraced that there may not be many girls in the gym, but they need to step up, fill open positions and make big plays.”

ATHENS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL - Introducing the 2024 Bluejays volleyball team. Pictured, from left to right, front row: McKenna Lepak, Alyvia Haehlke and Cacii Hart; middle row: Bailey Hanke, Autumn Diethelm, Sy’Rih Hartwig, Karly Eckert, Venessa Espinoza and Addisyn Kottke; back row: Sarai Aguilar-Hernandez, Aubrey Kottke, Itzel Espinoza, Ayva Haehlke and Jaelin Switlick.

PHOTO BY CHRIS KEPNER

BLOCK ATTEMPT AGAINST MEDFORD - Athens volleyball players Sy’Rih Hartwig (3) and Karly Eckert (4) go up for a block against Medford in a match on Aug. 28 in Medford. Athens lost the match, 2-0.

SN PHOTO/MATT FREY