Girls volleyball looks to build on last year's Southeast championship

Head Coach Brian Herman wants the Wrangell High School girls volleyball to be the best team in Southeast — and he knows they can be.

After winning the regional title (and fourth place at state) last year, the team is looking to take another step up this year. The 2024 season will be the second year for the team’s co-head coaching duo of Herman and Shelley Powers, and Herman noticed that the players are already looking better than they were at this point last year.

Since May, Herman and Powers have hosted open-gym sessions for the players to come out and get some on-court experience before the season starts on Oct. 4. The sessions are not necessarily opportunities for Herman and Powers to coach, but instead they allow returning players to shake some rust off and get the rising freshman up to the speed of the high school game.

Freshmen Jenna Eastaugh and Bri Stewart have impressed coaches this summer. Herman expects both to contribute to the relatively young team this year. The Wolves lost just two seniors from last year’s roster, though Alana Harrison — an impressive sophomore — will be a notable absence this year too. Harrison is expected to be back in town next season after her family headed to New Zealand for six months.

Aubrey Wynne headlines the list of the team’s notable returners. Despite coming off an ankle injury, Herman knows the team is going to rely on Wynne’s output and adaptability.

“She’s going to carry a lot of the load,” he said. “Last year, she put up some of the best numbers I’ve ever had. She filled in all over the court — wherever we needed.”

Starting setter Christina Johnson is also returning after being named to the all-state tournament team last season. Herman hopes senior Adeline Andrews and sophomore Alexis Easterly will be regular contributors as well.

In total, the coaches expect a roster of around 16 or 18; the impressive numbers may even allow for a JV team. Herman said he will not have an official head count until practices begin on Sept. 11.

The Wolves will compete in their first tournament of the year on Oct. 4 in Juneau before traveling to Metlakatla the following week. Then, they have a month-long break before heading to Petersburg.

They will round off the regular season on Nov. 23 at the Southeast tournament in Craig, where the top two teams will qualify for the Dec. 5 state tournament in Palmer.

Currently, there are no scheduled home meets, but Herman is trying to organize matches against Petersburg during the month-long break in scheduling. Talks of an alumni game are also in the works. Both options would give the team an opportunity for a traditional senior night, Herman said.