Returning Heartland Volleyball Coaches L to R: Assistant Les Reinke, Head Coach Ashton Brown, Assistant Coach Kyra Epp
Second-year Head Volleyball Coach Ashton (Kroeker) Brown is optimistic about her team, which has six seniors and a full roster of 27 volleyball players. Returning senior starters are KatriniaMarie Epp (setter), Jamisen Klein (outside hitter), and Isabel Johnson (libero). Coach Brown expects them to provide leadership and contribute heavily this season. Other seniors are Lydia Jahnke (middle), Jaelyn Brown (middle), and Siddalee Kliewer (defensive specialist).
“This strong senior group has a good leadership style, showing lots of encouragement, positivity, and joy for the game. They are excited to be back in the gym and are showing some fire to do well this season. They are willing to work hard this year to get it done,” said Coach Brown. With their attitude and big goals, Coach Brown believes this team will improve on last season’s record of 8-21.
During the summer, the team had several opportunities to practice volleyball. There were open gym nights in July when they scrimmaged and worked on drills and specific areas to improve, said Coach Brown. They participated in a satellite volleyball camp hosted by Southeast Community College at Heartland in July. All three teams, JV, Reserve, and Varsity, were able to compete in a two-day tournament in York earlier this summer as well.
Coach Brown was able to attend a coaches clinic in Kearney this summer, where the Nebraska Cornhusker Volleyball team did a practice session for the clinic. “We were able to observe firsthand the Huskers practice and how to transfer some of it to the high school level. It was very cool!” said Coach Brown. She also attended coaches clinics put on by the NSAA in Lincoln this summer.
It’s been a busy time for volleyball, with Coach Brown holding the Heartland Youth Volleyball Camp last week. For three mornings, they held a camp for second and third-graders in one session and fourth through sixth graders in a second session at the Heartland gym.
This past week, they met for morning conditioning and afternoon practices. Kyra (Dick) Epp and Les Reinke will be returning as assistant coaches this year.
Coach Brown leading the conditioning for the Huskie VB Team this week.
HUSKIE VB SCHEDULE
