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WESTBROOK -- Over the last few years, the Westbrook-Walnut Grove volleyball team has developed from being a strong program to a section title contender. The Chargers lost some key pieces over the offseason, but return a strong group with high hopes once again.
"I think the girls have gotten used to success and they hope to see the same success this year," WWG head coach Meghann Westover said. "They've been working really hard and I think we definitely have a lot of potential."
Hadley Jenniges returns for the Chargers as one of the area's top seniors. Her well-rounded game translated to an area-leading 657 set assists, along with 247 digs and 124 kills. She'll be one of the team's four captains this season, along with fellow seniors Sydney Foster and Leah VanDeWiele, and junior Natasha Wahl.
The Chargers have been a powerhouse as of late. WWG has won 20 or more games in each of the last three seasons, following a 13-12 campaign in 2022 and a 6-14 record in 2021. Their recent success has translated into the postseason, reaching the section championship game for the first time in program history in 2024 and getting to the section semifinals before falling to eventual state runner-up RTR last season.
WWG's strong returning core will be hampered by a handful of key losses. Carlie Ross was an All-Area first team selection last year, playing both front and back row with 286 kills and 330 digs on the season. Leah Carter was also a lethal middle blocker for the team, giving the Chargers a big hole to fill up front.
"All teams dream of being able to keep developing people, knowing full-well people are moving out," Westover said. "We've got some high hopes for some really young girls this year. So the biggest goal is to have fun and for them to learn while they're here."
Among the players expected to step up into larger roles this season are freshman Kendall Jenniges and Mayah Wahl. Jenniges, a middle blocker and outside hitter, got varsity reps as an eighth grader last season, while Wahl got some varsity experience as a defensive specialist as a freshman.
VanDeWiele gives the Chargers some returning experience at a key position. Entering her senior season as the team's libero, VanDeWiele has the ability to continue setting the tone for WWG in the defensive back row.
"She's a brilliant back row, she reads really well and she's also helping train the younger girls that will be coming to play on defense," Westover said. "I think having a year under her belt and building on that is really going to make a huge difference for us this year."
There's never an easy path for the Chargers, either in the regular season or the postseason. Section 3A has sent a team to the state championship game each of the last eight seasons, last going unrepresented in 2016 when volleyball was separated into three sections rather than four. The Red ROck Conference has also been consistently strong, giving the Chargers plenty of talented opponents to continue honing their talent against.
"I think a successful season for any high school team is about the girls having fun and playing well," Westover said. "I can honestly say we have a really good team and they get along very well. They have a ton of fun, and I think that's the basis of what's important in any high school sport. And then success as far as record comes after that."
WWG kicks off its season on Sept. 1 when it goes on the road to take on Springfield. The Chargers will host Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda for their home opener on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.