The Mayville varsity volleyball team enters the fall season with experience, depth and lofty expectations as the Cardinals return their entire roster from a year ago.
Head coach Alan Capps believes that continuity could be one of Mayville’s biggest advantages as the Cardinals prepare to compete in a challenging Flyway Conference.
“We are really excited about this group and what we believe they can accomplish this season,” Capps said.
Mayville returns all of its key players, including Leah Vossekuil, Lilian Mansuetto, Kiley Wenniger, Brielle Ehlers, Neva Mittlestadt, Allison Schelpfeffer, Marissa Vander Schaaf, Amelia Boeder and Megan Wendorff.
“We have an unusually experienced group coming back this season,” Capps said. “Having this much experience and continuity is a huge advantage for us heading into the season.”
With everyone returning, Capps said the Cardinals have excellent depth along with a strong combination of experience, athleticism and versatility. Younger players will also join the program and have opportunities to contribute.
Among Mayville’s biggest strengths will be its size at the net, defense and team chemistry.
“We have athletes who can make plays in a lot of different ways, and this group genuinely enjoys playing together,” Capps said. “That team dynamic is something we think can take us a long way.”
Offensively, Mayville plans to use its depth and versatility to play at a quick pace. The Cardinals want to move the ball around, utilize multiple hitters and keep opposing defenses off balance.
On defense, Capps has a much simpler philosophy: “Don’t let the ball hit the floor.”
“We want to be relentless defensively and outwork everyone we play,” he said. “We believe great defense creates energy, and that energy carries into the rest of our game.”
With an experienced roster in place, the Cardinals are not shying away from setting a high bar for the season.
“Our goal is to get to State,” Capps said. “We know that’s a big goal, but this team has the experience and talent to believe that it is possible.”
Along the way, Mayville hopes to contend for a Flyway Conference championship and make a deep postseason run while continuing to improve throughout the season.
The conference race will provide plenty of challenges. Capps expects perennial contender Laconia to once again be among the teams to beat, while Campbellsport should also be in the mix.
“There is a lot of great volleyball in this conference, and every night is going to be a battle,” Capps said.
The Cardinals will not have to wait long to see how they measure up. An early match against Watertown Luther Prep will provide an initial test, followed by the Hartford Invitational on the first Saturday of the season.
Capps said facing strong competition early should help the Cardinals identify areas for improvement and prepare for the challenges ahead.
“We have a lot of experience coming back; we have a great group of athletes who genuinely enjoy playing together, and we think this team has a chance to do something special,” Capps said.
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