By Staff
CANTON – Still young but very energetic, the Canton/Galva volleyball program looks to continue building on last season’s successes for a shot at a state tournament run in 2023.
In 2022 the Eagles despite only having 13 total players managed to finish the season with a record of 16-16 while finishing fifth in Wheat State League play though they did take third place in the post-season league tournament.
Reflecting on the upcoming 2023 season, head coach Jessica Putman noted, “Like last season, we have just 13 girls on the roster, so as a varsity we are still a very young team. We will have several girls learning new roles this season as well.”
Putman, in just her first season as head coach of the program, took the work of a pair of high-quality seniors and mixed them with a solid group of youngsters to get the Lady Eagles to a .500 record and one of the better seasons in several years. Assisting with the program will be Carmen Abernathy.
One challenge ahead will be replacing outside hitter Lili Espinoza and setter Brecken Pearson, both of whom have graduated. In 2022, Lili Espinoza accounted for a tam high 312 digs, 197 kills and 24 service aces while Pearson had 187 assists, 142 digs, 32 kills and 30 service aces, so filling the holes they leave will be a priority. In addition, senior Jordan Friesen, last season’s leader in blocks, has chosen not to play.
For 2023 the Lady Eagles will build the team around last season’s fabulous four freshman in Trinity Espinoza, Adi Alcala, Jordyn Elliott, and Jayden Orth.
It was an amazing first season for all four as outside hitter Tinity Espinoza led the team in service aces with 32 while also recording 309 digs and 229 kills while setter Alcala topped the team in assists with 315 and made 239 digs as well. Orth will again be the libero where she had 288 digs and 22 service aces in 2022, and Elliott will be a middle hitter who recorded 52 kills.
A huge plus for coach Putman will be the addition of Raegen Hawkinson, a junior transfer from Elyria Chistian where she put 116 digs, 112 kills and 73 blocks on her stat line as a sophomore.
In conclusion to her preseason reflections, Putman added, “This is a great group of young ladies both on and off the court. They will bring a lot of talent and experience to our upcoming season. I am excited to see how this team comes together.”
2023 CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE:
Friday, August 25 = at Volleyball Jamboree in Wichita
Tuesday, August 29 = at Inman Triangular (with Wichita Classical)
Tuesday, September 5 = Hosting a Quad (with Peabody/Burns, Rural Vista, Goessel)
Saturday, September 9 = at Gossel Invitational
Tuesday, September 12 = at Centre Quad (with Elyria Christian, Goessel)
Tuesday, September 19 = Hosting a Triangular – Senior Night (with Goessel, Wichita Classical)
Thursday, September 21 = at Elyria Christian Triangular (with Burrton)
Saturday, September 23 = at Herington Invitational
Tuesday, September 26 = at Goessel Quad (with Wakefield, Solomon)
Saturday, September 30 = Hosting Invitational
Tuesday, October 3 = at Little River Triangular (with Herington)
Saturday, October 14 = at Wheat State League Tournament hosted by Peabody/Burns
Saturday, October 21 = at State Sub-State, TBA
Friday/Saturday, October 27/28 = at State Tournament in Dodge City
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(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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