UTAH BOUND HARRIS WILL LEAD LADY TEUTON SPIKERS
By Staff
INMAN – With a proud history of late that includes 20 wins or more in five of the most recent six seasons, the Inman volleyball program recorded thirty-plus wins each of the past two season that concluded with a 27-7 mark and a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament in 2023!
With success, change is still coming as the Lady Teutons welcome a new head coach for 2024 with Kat Russell taking over the reigns of the program, bringing along over 25 years of coach experience with her. Russell has done it all and done so at all levels, including junior high varsity, to senior high varsity and even some elite club teams. Joining her on the bench will be assistants Emma Butler (who is also Russell’s daughter), and Nicole McClellan.
“This team has endless potential as they have been working very hard,” explained coach Russell. “I am extremely excited about the upcoming season.”
Gone are three graduated seniors in Chloe Schmidt, Madelyn Brunk, and Kambrey Woods – all of whom made solid contributions to a pair of phenomenally successful seasons recently.
The leader of the 2024 season will be junior Suttyn Harris, who in 2023 was honored as first team all-league team, all-state tournament team and all-Class 2A teams. Coach Russell will count on Harris for her leadership and all-around volleyball instincts as she led the Lady Teutons in kills, blocks, and digs each of the past two seasons. With her junior and senior season still ahead of her, Harris has already committed to play NCAA Division volleyball at the University of Utah.
Other returnees to continue pushing the program forward will be senior Brooke Aiden, juniors Allison Schrag, Morgan Froese, and Kenna Woods plus sophomore Taylor Froese. Junior Ellie Thimmesch also returns to the volleyball net this season.
“We will be the team to watch,” noted coach Russell. “We now have all the puzzle pieces, and they all seem to be falling into place.”
In addition to the returning Lady Teutons, Russell will also have unique opportunity to blend in junior Adi Alcala, a transfer from Canton/Galva where she led the Lady Eagles in assists as a sophomore in 2023.
In concluding her pre-season reflections as the new coach with a talented team, Russell added, “Let us remember that our team motto says it all – Let’s Make Some Noise!!”
The Lady Teutons will open the 2024 volleyball season on Tuesday, September 3 at Centre (plus Wichita Classical and Canton/Galva) before hosting the Inman Invitational on Saturday, September 7. The remainder of the schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, September 10 – at Sedgwick (with Wichita Classical, Moundridge)
Saturday, September 14 – at Haven Tournament
Tuesday, September 17 – hos Bennington
Thursday, September 19 – at Hutchinson Trinity
Tuesday, September 24 – at Moundridge (with Berean Academy, Marion)
Thursday, September 26 – at Sterling
Tuesday, October 1 – at Moundridge
Thursday, October 3 – host Little River
Saturday, October 5 – at Canton/Galva Tournament
Tuesday, October 8 – host quad (with Moundridge, CCA, Remington)
Tuesday, October 15 – host Ell-Saline
Thursday, October 17 – host Pratt Skyline (senior night)
Monday/Tuesday, October 21/22 – Class 2A Sub-State Quarterfinals
Saturday, October 26 – Class 2A Sub-State Finals
Saturday, November 2 – Class 2A State Tournament in Dodge City
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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