LA VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAS 'PROMISE FOR FUTURE'

    With just two seniors on this year’s roster, the Langford Area volleyball squad has what Coach Susan Larson calls “a promise for the future.”
    The Lady Lions finished their season with an 11-21 record, earning the number five seed in the Region 1B tournament before falling to four seed Aberdeen Christian in the regional quarterfinals.
    Mariah Tosse and Paytyn Marlow will graduate from this year’s squad, and Larson stressed that they leave some big shoes to fill.
    “We will miss Mariah and Paytyn tremendously,” noted Larson. “Those two were quiet leaders but they are positive, hard working and dedicated.”
    Larson also saw a lot of improvement from her club this season and that bodes well for the future.
    “They are a great bunch to work with and their passion for volleyball is apparent.  I think our biggest growth as a team was our defense. I was often impressed with their hustle and effort. The last week of practice I really noticed more confidence and intensity while attacking the volleyball, and I believe the Lions wrapped up their season with pride, progress and a promise for the future.”
    Among servers with more than 200 serves junior Lizzie Gustafson led the Lady Lions, hitting 96% (319-332) and 37 aces.  Junior Alex Darling had the most aces with 38, hitting 328-348 for 94%.  Marlow connected on 92% of her serves (242-263) and 36 aces, and junior Emily Olson was 221-239 for 92% and 32 aces.
    Olson was a dominant force at the net for LA, pounding 159 kills on 547-643 tries for 85%.  Gustafson was right behind with 141 kills and connected on 90% of her attacks (652-729).  Junior Brooke Dwight added 71 kills, hitting 382-457 for 84%.  Tosse hit 224-255 for 88% and 46 kills, while Marlow was 197-250 for 79% with 44 kills.  Junior Autumn Wegleitner contributed 40 kills, hitting 249-298 for 84%.
    Darling led the LA defensively, receiving 243 of 254 serves for a 96% success rate.  Gustafson was 208-226 for 92%, and Olson was 283-316 for 90%.  Junior Brynn Samson received 293-330 for 89%.
    Marlow led the way in digs with 402.  Gustafson and Darling both had 357, Olson 346, Samson 202, and sophomore Brooklynn West 188.  Tosse was the leader in the block category with 67, Olson had 47, Gustafson and Wegleitner 34 each, Marlow 27, and Dwight 22.
    Marlow and West did most of the work in setting the ball.  Marlow had good sets on 1467 of 1499 tries and was credited with 280 assists.  West was 924-962 with 160 assists.  Wegleitner added 139-143 and 22 assists.