Senior-Laden Lady Cougars Looking to Compete in AAA Conference

The  Lady Cougar girl’s volleyball team returns a wealth of experience this season. 

The Lady Cougars return six senior this fall: Amanda Hall, a defensive specialist, Paige Hallemeier, an outside hitter, Meagan Leppien, a setter, Paige Poggemeier, a defensive specialist, and Jamie Skerston, a middle hitter. Head coach Erin Diani-O’Day said all of the seniors will start. Lutheran graduated just three seniors last year. 

“They (seniors) are a very close group,” Diani-O’Day said. “They’ve been playing together since the fifth or sixth grade. They’re just a good group of girls.” 

Juniors Natalie Weinhold, a defensive specialist, and Kristin Lauer, a middle hitter, both played varsity last year. 

“They bring some experience back as well,” Diani-O’Day said. “They’ve also worked very hard in the off-season. They’re involved in multiple sports and stay in shape.” 

Diani-O’Day said two sophomores will play varsity this fall: outside hitter Carley VonDeylen and middle and right side hitter Hannah Leppien. She also said the team has participated in strong practices so far. 

“This is my first year with nine girls, I’m used to having more girls,” she said. “So practices are going a little faster.” 

Diani-O’Day expects her hitters “to pick up their game and have more kills” but she also expects a lot out of the Lady Cougars’ defense. 

“I think we have a very good group of defensive specialists,” she said. “They hustle and they really world hard to make sure nothing touches that floor.” 

Lutheran competes in the AAA Conference. Diani-O’Day said Lutheran’s biggest competitors will be Rosati-Kain and St. Dominic.  

“Dominic graduated a majority of their girls and we only graduated three,” she said. “It’s a good thing for us because we don’t have to change a whole lot.” 

The Lady Cougars will debut at 6:15 on Aug. 29 in a home game against St. Charles.