The Lady Vikes underwent major changes this year with new head coach, Amanda Roehrenbeck, and several experienced freshmen joining their ranks. “My philosophy has been to rebuild and improve altogether,” says Coach Roehrenbeck. “They didn’t win a game last season, so I just expected them to improve, focus on being a team, and communicate with each other well.”

Joining lone senior, Bex Beitzinger, as returning letter winners were juniors Sydney Frazier and Mandy Yakscoe, sophomores, Addison Anders, Jillian Woodard, and Lauren Vodnick, and new to varsity were sophomores, Annie Morford and Catherine Lange, and 9th graders, Yashi Gunawardena and Ana Clavijo.

Unfortunately, Woodard suffered from an ankle injury early in the season, and Roehrenbeck had to make adjustments. She said, “Jillian was our starting middle, which is a hard position to replace. She also played back row for us. As the season progressed, she was one of our key passers. So it killed us when she went down.” Lange, who was moved up to varsity, “did a great job adjusting,” adds Roehrenbeck.

Gunawardena, a club player, along with Vodnick, Frazier, and Clavijo, says, “The team is so young. We have good potential for the future. In two years, we’ll be really good.” Winning their first game of the year against Whetstone, the Vikes ended their regular season on a bang. In the meantime, the netsters continue to bond as teammates off the court. According to Roehrenbeck, “They’re trying hard. They’re young. And they’re nice girls. It could be a lot different.”

Written by Margaret Sutton’14. Photos by Jeremy Schroeder’14 and Elliot Nick’14.