Several veterans back for Findlay High Volleyball

Courtney Rolf is anxiously waiting for the 2020 volleyball season to get started. And she has a gym full of players who feel the same way. "We have a lot of veteran players," said Rolf, beginning her first season as Findlay High's varsity volleyball coach. "If not all, then most of them have played varsity before. That's one of our strengths. I really think that's going to help." Rolf, a prep standout at Eastwood, a four-year letter winner for the University of Findlay and a former assistant and JV coach at Van Buren, got a bit of a late start as head coach. Bill Bonham had originally been hired to replace Justin Rohrer, Findlay's head coach in 2018 and 2019. But Bonham had to seek other employment when the COVID-19 pandemic closed everything down and left him without a position in the school's security area. Rolf was more than ready to assume her first head coaching spot, especially with a deep group of returning veterans helping ease the transition. "We have one sophomore who might see some playing time. The rest are all juniors and seniors," Rolf said. "I like that experience. Not only does everybody get along and is willing to work, but when we're putting new things out there they are taking it in and running with it. "I can tell them something and they are athletic enough and experienced enough that they'll figure it out in a set or two. That's been nice." Findlay graduated only two players – Jess Tremains and Claire Doepker – from last year's 7-17 team. Tremains, an outside hitter, had 133 kills and 54 digs as a second-team all-Three Rivers Athletic Conference pick. Doepker (192 digs) received honorable mention all-league recognition. Six seniors and six juniors headline Findlay's 2020 roster, though. Ten of the 12 have seen varsity action, with eight playing 50 or more sets. Shannon Klotz, a senior outside hitter, returns after earning honorable mention all-league recognition during a junior year in which she had 107 kills, 30 ace serves and 160 digs. Senior Sammy Vance (97 digs), had 80 kills and 38 blocks last season, senior Kelsey Shindeldecker (32 digs) had 87 kills, senior middle blocker Kirsten Selhorst had 54 kills and 23 blocks before being slowed by an injury late in the season, and junior Aubrey Hucke had 57 kills, 16 blocks and 101 digs. Senior outside hitter Caitlyn Lentz had 15 kills, 23 ace serves and 66 digs in 65 sets played. Findlay returns its top two setters in senior Kylie Britton (910 sets, 266 assists) and junior Ashley Robinson (684 sets, 211 assists, 56 digs). Rolf sees the return of Kristen Scherger and Alexis Buddelmeyer as an added plus in terms of talent and experience. Scherger, a senior middle blocker, earned all-TRAC honors as a sophomore but missed most of her junior year due to an injury. Buddelmeyer, a junior outside hitter, missed the 2019 season with an ACL tear. Rolf said Scherger, Buddlemeyer and Selhorst are healthy, motivated and looking to make up for lost time. "They've been healthy; no problems," Rolf said. "This year they're ready to come back and put two years into one since they missed all of last season." Completing Findlay's varsity roster are junior defensive specialists Rheanna Patterson and Kiley Geiser and sophomore setter Jillian Nicholson. Finlay won't trot out a tall team, but Rolf says there are ways to level the playing field. "Our tallest is 5-foot-11, so we don't have lot of height," Rolf said. "But our girls are super athletic, and with trying to run a faster offense I'm hoping they can play like they're 6-3. Our defensive specialists are quick and our hitters can jump and they read things well. If we're quick to the free balls, if we're fast and sharp and can be scrappy, I think that can win us some games." 2020 Volleyball Schedule Sat., Aug. 22 at Springfield 11 a.m. Wed., Aug. 26 Benjamin Logan 6:30 Sat., Aug. 29&emsp;&emsp;at Maumee &emsp;&emsp;11:15 a.m. Thur., Sept. 3 Lima Senior (TRAC) &emsp;&emsp;6 Thur., Sept. 10 Tol. Notre Dame (TRAC) 6 Sat., Sept. 12 at Perrysburg 11:30 a.m. Thur., Sept. 17 at Oregon Clay (TRAC) 7 Sat., Sept. 19 at Coldwater Tri-Match 2 Tues., Sept. 22 at Fremont Ross (TRAC) 7:30 Thurs., Sept. 24 at Tol. Central Catholic (TRAC) 6 Sat., Sept. 26 at Springfield Golden Spike &emsp;&emsp;9 a.m. Tues., Sept. 29 Defiance &emsp;&emsp;7:30 Sat., Oct. 3 &emsp;&emsp;at Sylvania Southview 12:30 Mon., Oct. 5 &emsp;&emsp;Anthony Wayne 6 Wed., Oct. 7 &emsp;&emsp;Norwalk St. Paul 6 Thur., Oct. 8 &emsp;&emsp;Tol. St. Ursula (TRAC) 6 Mon., Oct. 12 at Tiffin Columbian &emsp;&emsp;6:30 Thur., Oct. 15 at Toledo Whitmer (TRAC) &emsp;&emsp;6:15