Cougar volleyball team aims for Wheat State League title

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 28 August 2012 14:02

The Centre volleyball team will be led by seniors (from left) Carrie Carlson, Beka Basore, Anna Weber, Ellie Miller and Genesis Rudolph. They return all their starters and letter-winners and hope to finish near the top of the Wheat State League.

Coach Yvonne Burhoop, who returns for her 31st year at Centre High School, hopes to net league success this season with a volleyball team loaded with experience.

“We have all our letter-winners and starters back from last year, so we should be at or near the top of the league,”?Burhoop said.

Last season the Cougars posted a 19-16 record, finishing third in the Wheat State League and fourth in the league tournament.

But to finisher higher, the Cougars will have to duke it out with reigning volleyball powerhouse Goessel, with a strong Little River team adding to the mix.

Leading the Cougar effort will be 5-for-8 senior hitter Beka Basore, a returning starter who made the Centre all-tournament team and was an all-league honorable mention pick in 2011.

Other starters returning for Centre include senior hitter Anna Weber, senior setter/hitter Genesis Rudolph, junior hitter Cacey Simons, junior hitter Bryanna Svoboda and sophomore setter Shelby Makovec.

Burhoop said she has 10 girls who will be fighting for playing time, including seniors Ellie Miller, Weber and Carrie Carlson, junior Makenzie Deines and sophomore Brenna Shields.

Miller, a starter and letter-winner in 2010, was injured in the team’s first match last season and looks to regain her starting position, while Carlson and Shields both lettered last year.

The Cougars got their first chance to test their mettle Aug. 28 when they hosted Inman and Canton-Galva.