Anselmo-Merna Volleyball Back in a District Final

The 2020 Anselmo-Merna volleyball team fought through early season struggles to finish the year with one of their best finishes in team history. Despite going into sub-districts with a losing record, they walked away with two wins and finished Runner-Up in District D1-1.

“We started the season a little slow,” A-M head coach Katie Hoblyn said. “We played competitively with many teams but had a hard time finishing games to get the victory. I believe we were playing our best volleyball at the right time. I always tell the girls that the record doesn’t matter, it’s what you put on the court that day.”

Despite finishing the year with a 13-19 record, the Coyotes were able to upset Mullen 2-0 who was a state tournament team and they lost 25-22 and 25-23 to eventual D2 State Runner-Up Chambers-Wheeler Central at

their home tournament back in October.

The team was led by a group of three seniors. They were Claire Cooksley, Kaitlyn Jacquot and Emmalee Bartak.

“We had a great group of seniors,” Hoblyn said. “They were hard workers and great leaders on and off the court. Claire Cooksley and Kaitlyn Jacquot stepped up their level of play from their junior season. They helped us have a more well-rounded

team.”

The Coyotes will have to replace two starters from this season’s team but will return a great deal of experience. This includes the team’s two leaders in kills, Hadlee Safranek and Jaide Chandler, and the team’s leader in digs, Kirsten Myers.

“It is very nice to have a large core group of returning starters,” Hoblyn said. “We will have a lot

of experience and leadership. We look to take a step forward from this season and build on the momentum for next year.”

When asked what her favorite memories were from this season, Hoblyn gave everal different games that she believed were great.

“My favorite moments are when I see an athlete accomplish something in a game we worked on in

practice,” Hoblyn said. “My favorite game was beating Mullen in the semi-finals of the Brady Tournament. We have always had a rivalry with Mullen. The best moment was beating Ansley-Litchfield and realizing we get to go to sub-state. It had been a long time since A-M had been to a substate final or district final game in volleyball.”

Alex Eller The 2020 Anselmo-Merna Coyotes Volleyball team pictured above from Front Row left are Michaela Myers, Kaitlyn Jacquet, Claire Cooksley, Emmalee Bartek; Second Row: Hadlee Safranek, Mackenzie Burnett, Keirsten Brandon, Riley Marsh, Adyson Priest, Karsee McGinn, Grace Cantrell; Third Row: Raylee Downing, Carlee Bartak, Haley Wells, Kora Schmidt, Kirsten Myers, Macy Miller; Fourth Row: Michaela Myers, Shaylyn Safranek, and Jaide Chandler.