Wolfpack spikers aiming higher

The foundation has been set for the Glacier Wolfpack volleyball team.

Among the 2010 Wolfpack highlights were a 20-7 record, winning the Western AA conference, claiming the automatic bid to the state tournament - and bringing home the first traditional team sport trophy in Glacier's four-year history - for third place.

But 2010 is gone - as are the six seniors who contributed to that trophy.

"Those seniors contributed a ton. They set the standard very high. This year's class understands that," said Glacier coach Christy Harkins.

This year is "very different. There are just some different strengths with this team. I haven't entirely figured them out yet. We just haven't had enough court time," Harkins said.

But this year's squad is anxious to add to the list of accomplishments.

"We have a nice blend of seniors that have experience and underclassmen with leadership skills and potential," Harkins said.

Added to that is "they are great people and that's a great place to start. Our JV/varsity is 21 great people. They are going to be good to each other and they will represent the school well," she said.

"They are also willing to listen and improve, so they will get better at volleyball," she added.

It's not as if the cupboard is bare.

The Wolfpack returns first team all-state outside hitter Lexy Boschee (302 kills last year) as well as honorable mention all-conference middle Tiffany Marks (69 blocks).

Boschee leads all Glacier hitters with a career total of 611 kills. She also has 352 digs, has served 87 aces and has 68 blocks.

Marks, a junior, has a career total of 93 blocks.

"We want to beat (that third place finish). We know we can. It seems like our chemistry is doing really good. We still have our big middles. I think we're going to be at the top," Boschee said.

"I'm very excited. We have so much potential. We're just anxious. We want to do well and carry on from last year," she added.

Senior defensive specialist Amy Snipstead spent the last couple of years playing JV, but she has strong state experience as a doubles tennis player.

She has placed second, third and fourth at the divisional tennis tournament and has been a part of two straight Class AA state tennis championships.

"This year, I definitely think we can do a lot. We definitely have the potential. We have a great sense of team. Our blocking this year is phenomenal. That really helps the passers. I think we have the potential to be just as good or better," she said.

The Wolfpack has put in the time in the form of camps, summer conditioning, open gyms, etc., Snipstead said.

"People were definitely playing," she said.

"The key thing for us are the things they did athletically in the spring and summer," Harkins said.

"That's really where we draw our strength. We as a whole didn't play a ton of volleyball. Some individuals did, because that is their passion," she said.

"I like the potential of this team. We have some young kids in key spots and they're pretty athletic," Harkins said.

Among those is freshman setter Hannah Liss.

Liss has big shoes to fill - Paige Latimer was second team all-state.

"She's a year-rounder. She will run our offense well. She's a great leader on the court and the girls are responding really well to her," Harkins said.

"She's got a tough job, but I think she can do it," Boschee said of Liss.

The Wolfpack passing will be solid, Harkins said.

"I have passers that have a lot of reps in that role - not necessarily varsity reps, but they have been in their positions for three or four years. We have a lot offensive potential," she added.

All the Wolfpack needs is time and repetitions.

"We just need a lot of reps. We need a set rotation. We need court time. We need to find out who we are, where we are, find out what we do," Harkins said.