Halloween may still be three weeks away, but these 13 girls have been out to kill since September. They have lined up this year with a fresh group of three freshmen, who had a combined total of 12 kills, nine digs, and nine assists in a varsity matchup against Appleton West. Although this new talent has performed well, tough competition has made wins hard to come by.

Besides the young blood, returning athletes have stepped into the spotlight, taking on new roles to lead the team.

“I would say our energy is great with the new girls,” sophomore Maeve Lasky said. “I love to practice things out and work through it with my coaches and teammates.”

The group of girls makes sticking together and teamwork a priority in their play.

“My hope for this season is that we work together as a team and have an uplifting vibe,” Lasky said. “We don't focus on our record, we focus on the amount of effort we put into our games.”

Head coach Gillian Pakula focuses on developing physical and social skills with the girls.

“Volleyball is really competitive and you have to be willing to put the time in,” she said. “A lot of times you'll put in the work individually, but ultimately it’s a team sport.”

A recent win against conference opponent Neenah has ignited home high spirits, but Pakula is always looking for more.

“Overall our record is not where we want it to be, but I’m excited to get in the gym everyday,” she said. “I think our mentality is positive.”

Pinpointing what went wrong in a game can be the most difficult, yet important part of coaching.

“As coaches, our responsibility is to know the game and make those adjustments within the game,” Pakula said. “It's one thing to get beat, but it's another thing to beat yourself.”

The conference season will be ending soon and the girls will begin tournaments, playing teams from all over the state.

Pakula looks towards larger goals in the scheme of the season.

“We have a conference season and then we have the championship season,” she said. “Our goal is to be the best playing team when that starts.”

For seniors, the championship season will not only be the last chance to win, but it will also be the last time playing with their Wildcat teammates.

“My favorite part about the sport is all the girls and the family we have,” said senior Sierra Kunde.

Kunde, who is returning for her fourth consecutive year with the team, encourages others to seek out the many opportunities the sport has to offer.

¨If you’re interested in joining, do it,” she said. “It's so fun; you won't regret it.”

Lasky is ready to take on new challenges with a fresh start and perspective, one aspect she believes to be one of the best parts of the sport.

“Nothing stays the same,” she said. “There will never be a play that is the exact same as the one before.”

by Sophie Carlin

Published October 3, 2022

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue I

Wildcats weave in fresh blood as volleyball season winds down