Submitted photo: The 2024 Lakeview volleyball team consists of (back row, left to right) Megan Schwartz, Anah Schmidt, Carmen Varpness, Aubrey Nething, Kiara Hinz, Taylor Hinz, (middle row) Avery Hinz, Reagan Bossuyt, Aleeya Louwagie, Aubreigh Rausch, Makenzie Herrick, (first row) Jersey Stensrud, Teegan Fiene and Rachel Timm.

COTTONWOOD — The Lakeview Lakers are entering the 2024 season with a mindset of playing for one another selflessly and improving their competition under new head coach Alexis Lienemann. Also on the coaching staff are assistants Missi Loe and Savanna Rausch. 

Seniors Aubreigh Rausch and Aubrey Nething will be the setters, with Rausch starting. Sophomore Jersey Stensrud will hold the libero role for the team. The team’s captains are Rausch, Stensrud and seniors Carmen Varpness and Kiara Hinz. 

Lienemann is entering her first year coaching the varsity squad, after coaching a year at the junior high and last year as the junior varsity coach. She is replacing Stephanie Hennen, who retired after last season. 

Lienemann played for the Lakers and was their starting libero as a sophomore through her senior year. She graduated in 2019. 

“I am so excited … I’ve grown with these girls through the years, even when I was a junior high coach. So, seeing them this year just having so much more fun and comfortability in the gym, it makes it easier for me to try new things and fulfill new drills,” Lienemann said. “I’m feeling very excited for a fresh start and to be able to empower them … The goal is to improve and it is to win.” 

Lienemann’s coaching staff is a full circle family for the Lakers, as they previously already had relationships. 

“Savanna was also one of my teammates, and Missi coached me when I was a kid,” Lienemann said. “Everyone that’s coaching has either been in the program or lived in the community for so long … It’s such a good group of women that I trust and have just the full intent of making the program better.” 

Lakeview had an up-and-down 2023 run, finishing with an overall 11-15 record. Still, the team had made significant strides forward from the previous season in which they finished 2-20. 

Sophomore Taylor Hinz and Kiara led offense in kills, and will again be a threat on the outside position this year. Aubreigh Rausch led the team in set assists, and has a personal goal of completing a thousand set assists this season. 

Stensrud will be new at taking the reins at Libero while being joined by last season’s libero, junior Teegan Fiene, in the back row.

“Jersey is the youngest captain that we have on the varsity team,” Lienemann said. “Part of that reason is there are underclassmen that look to her and skillfully, she’s just a natural in the back row.” 

Lienemann also said Aubreigh Rausch is a leader by example vocally with a lot of varsity experience, Varpness is one of the team’s motivators in the way she portrays work ethic, and Kiara is a key piece in running their offense and leading the team in kills. 

“It’s just so heartwarming to know that they just love each other, and it’s just gonna make the season go by so quick, but so easy,” Lienemann said. 

Through the first week of practice, the Lakers have shown strong team chemistry and selflessness, which Lienemann wants to continue the entire season. 

“They have truly dove into the idea of team cohesion and role fulfillment, whereas, maybe last year, we kind of leaned on our seniors, or we’ve leaned on other underclassmen to be leaders on their squads,” Lienemann said. “Everyone is doing something for the team. There is no girl in the gym that is selfish or plays like they run the floor.” 

The Lakers were the No. 7 seed in the 2023 Section 3A volleyball tournament. They defeated No. 10 Yellow Medicine East in the first round but fell to No. 2 Canby — an eventual section semifinalist — in the second round.

As the season approaches, Lienemann will have her team focus on perfecting the fundamentals of the game. 

“Doing the little things or increasing their volleyball IQ on top of what they learned last year. We have to take each season as it is and learn from it,” Lienemann said. “They acknowledge that. I think that they’re smart young women, and as coaches, we’re empowering them. Like, we’re giving you the skills, and we’re using practice to work on these things with you. When it comes to a game, though, it’s now on you.”

The Lakers will be without Kiara Hinz at the start of the season, due to rehabbing an elbow injury that occurred over the summer on her legion softball team in the state tournament. She is not expected to be out long, and has still been participating in practices at her parents’ and coaches’ discretion. 

“I think we all just have really leaned on each other when it comes to adversity within our team, and then that’s where us coaches have had conversations with every single athlete in our gym,” Lienemann said. “I foresee the season going very well, if not improving from last year, which is the goal. It is everybody’s job to handle hardships and as coaches, we need to prepare them for that mentally.” 

Lakeview will debut on Thursday against last year’s Class A state tournament champions, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, at home at 7:15 p.m. The last time the two met was also the first match of last year, which the Lakers lost in straight sets. 

Lienemann discussed how highly competitive she and her staff are, and having a mission to bring their home ground success. 

“We [herself and coach Rausch] were on the floor together playing for Lakeview, so we have this sense of pride like we need to make our community proud,” Lienemann said. “If we’re putting our best foot forward, that’s all that we can do. That is in our control — Our attitude, our effort and reminding ourselves the purpose of this game is to play together.”