JANESVILLE — In this first week of practice, Janesville Parker head coach Bruce Erickson saw a team that showed competitiveness.
Erickson, who coached the junior varsity team last season, is excited to see how the team grows this season. Erickson takes over for Sam Corrigan, who coached the Vikings’ varsity team for the previous two seasons, but stepped down as she recently started a family.
“I’m hoping as the season goes on we’ll continue to grow and maybe close some gaps with some of the higher level teams that we are facing in our conference. We don’t have a lot of club players and a lot of our girls don’t start till later on. Just trying to make up that ground with some of the other programs is something I hope these girls can do,†Erickson said.
The Vikings went 8-22 last season and 1-8 in the Big Eight Conference. Their lone conference win was a 3-2 victory over Madison West.
A trio of experienced varsity returners comes back to guide the team this season, one of which is senior setter Delaney King. Maycee Martin, a junior, will be another setter.
“They’re both multi-sport athletes that are super athletic, can cover a lot of ground and can put up hittable balls that I hope we can get good swings on,†Erickson said.
Erickson added he’s excited to see Martin step up into the varsity level. He said King did a nice job as a setter last season and that he looks forward to seeing her continue to improve.
Anna Redieske played outside as a sophomore and will find herself in the same role this season as a junior.
“She hits with a lot of power when she gets the opportunity. She’s improved quite a bit with her passing and is continuing to work on her serving,†Erickson said.
Ddeja Douglas, a senior, will also be an outside hitter. Erickson described Douglas as competitive. He said she’s an energizing leader.
Senior Macy Mills has the role of opposite hitter. Freshman Aubrey Gregory will also play somewhere in the front row, Erickson said.
“We’ve got a few that we’re still trying to figure out where the best place might be for them once we get going. So we’re going to give her a chance as a freshman,†Erickson said.
Sophomore Stella Brown and junior Daveta White are middle blockers. Naveah Taylor, a sophomore, may get some touches in the middle as well.
“With the new two libero system this year, we’re looking at probably using Olivia Perry for one of those. And then we’re looking at using Natalia Bond as our other libero/DS,†Erickson said.
Perry is a junior while Bond is a senior. Madyn Erickson, a sophomore, is another defensive specialist.
Erickson kept the team’s goal simple: grow and improve. Along the way, he’d like to see, if possible, the Vikings establish themselves as a top five team in the conference.
“I know we have a lot of strong competition that we’re going to have to face and see how we can adjust to the speed of the game and the size of some of the teams that we play in the Big Eight,†Erickson said.