Weekend Sports Anchor
Colton Emswiler began at News 19 in early 2022 as a reporter before transitioning to the sports department.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – UW-La Crosse has seen a lot of recent success with their fall sports teams and they hope to add volleyball to that list.
The Eagles have gone 1-13 over the last two years in conference play. Deb Sazama enters year two as head coach and says the team is set on their primary 2024 objective.
“They’ve set goals, and they’re very realistic goals,” Sazama said. “We want to make the conference tournament. When you look at wins and losses, that’s part of it. We’ve got to get into that darn tournament. Success is not just volleyball, it’s them as women and us as a program. But certainly getting into the conference tournament is on the top of our list.”
“We’re in the toughest conference in the country,” senior Gabby Johnson said. “I think we know that going into every single game and we know every game is going to be tough. I think focusing on the little things for us like serving tough, good passes, everything like that. Those are the little differences between getting a win and a loss in the conference tournament.”
Johnson enters her 6th year and is one of three seniors on the team. Meanwhile, Sazama managed to recruit eight freshmen to join the program during her first full offseason at the helm.
She and the older players are excited about what they bring to the table.
“Oh my gosh, that was a lot of work,” Sazama said. “But I couldn’t be happier with them. They’re athletic, they’re big. I’ve been so impressed with how the upperclassmen have welcomed them and how the underclassmen have just melded into the program. Probably one of the most enjoyable falls I’ve had coaching.”
“They’re really easy to get along with,” senior Jackie Oetterer said. “Day one, we had a notebook of everything they need to know so that we’re all on the same page. Just little things that I have to help them with, but nothing major. They’re a really good group of girls and I don’t have to do much for them.”
During a intra-team scrimmage this week, four of six players on one side were composed of freshmen. That group managed to win the lone set 32-30.
The Eagles open the year on Friday in Jacksonville, Illinois. They start WIAC play on September 18 at River Falls before their home opener two days later during their annual invitational.
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Weekend Sports Anchor
Colton Emswiler began at News 19 in early 2022 as a reporter before transitioning to the sports department.
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