The 2018 North Union varsity volleyball team is pictured from left, front row, Lissie Michael, Josie Duncan, Darian Thompson, Mackenzie Grose and Kaitlyn O’Connors; second row, Sydney Bacon, Grason Ingles, Journey Blevins, Grace Brandt, Brycelyn Deickert, Jordyn Hoffman and Kayla Sedgwick; third row, coach Colleen Faber, coach Allison Tumey, head coach Peg Curts, coach Mason Jamison and coach Bre Nauman.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The North Union volleyball team is looking for success in a new league this year.
NU has entered the Central Buckeye Conference this year in all sports except football and the new league will bring new challenges, according to head coach Peg Curts.
“We’re excited that we are playing schools more of our own size, which is Division III,” said Curts. “Although we do not know a lot about the others schools in our conference from prior years of playing, we are looking forward to the competition.”
The Lady Cats will square off against Benjamin Logan, Graham, Indian Lake, Northwestern and Urbana in the Mad River Division of the conference.
The team hopes to improve upon last year’s 10-14 record with the help of a veteran roster that extends to the bench.
“We have seven returning letter earners who bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the game,” said Curts.
Those veterans include Darian Thompson, Kaitlin O’Conners, Lissie Michael, Mackenzie Grose, Josie Duncan, Brycelyn Deickert and Journey Blevins.
Thompson has returned to the team as the libero.
O’Conners and Michaels will play on the front line as the Cats’ outside hitters, while Curts will look to the height of Blevins and Deickert to help block the heavy hands of North Union’s new opponents.
Duncan will help set the ball on the court, while Grose will patrol the back line.
Along with the core of letter winners, the Lady Cats have five other players joining the varsity roster with strong athleticism to help this season.
“We have added some underclassmen to our roster who are strong athletically and will help enhance our overall play,” Curts said.
With the new season underway, the Lady Cats are hoping to make a splash in their new conference.