Trojanettes ready to seize the moment
With just one departure from last season’s team that finished second in district, the Windthorst Trojanettes and head coach Allison Bussey firmly belief this is their year to return to greatness.
“I know we’re all very excited about this season,” Bussey said. “We have very high expectations but at the same time we want to stay humble and not look too far ahead. We’re taking everything one game at a time. Starting with these preseason games and tournaments, we’re trying to find a rotation that works for us and get some chemistry and gel as a team.”
With a challenging non-district and tournament schedule, Bussey believes the early slate will better help prepare Windthorst for a tough district schedule and potential playoff run.
“We’ve always had a very competitive district. I know Archer graduated a lot but Krissa (England) is a great coach and she will find a way to make her team good. She’s always very competitive. It’s the same thing with Petrolia. They’ve got a lot of returners. We have a district full of very good coaches that know how to push their teams to their best. We’re not going to take anyone lightly and got out each game and compete.”
While returning everyone but three-year starter Camryn Latham has the Trojanettes expecting greatness in 2022, perhaps Windthorst’s biggest win came in February in UIL realignment. Windthorst was moved from the gauntlet of Region II back to Region I. No longer will the second place district seed have to matchup with traditional power Crawford in the second round of the postseason.
“Overall we’re very versatile. I have people on the bench that can go in for other people if they’re having an off day. When we’re on, we’re on and we’re fun to watch. We’ve got a great group of girls this year and I’m very thankful for their work ethic. It makes it easier on me and to help the girls each day.”
The Trojanettes are led by five seniors, headlined by senior Tara Tackett, a four-year starter for Windthorst.
Tackett earned the district’s Most Outstanding Server award a season ago. She posted 319 kills, 90 aces, 91 blocks and 314 digs as one of the top all-around players in the area.
“Tara’s started for us since her freshman year. She’s a tremendous hitter and blocker. She brings so much energy to the court. When Tara gets fired up, everyone in the gym gets fired up. That’s what I love about her. She’s a natural-born leader.”
Senior Bree Kirk is expected to take over Latham’s role at libero after she picked up a first team all-district nod last year with 38 aces and 262 digs as a defensive specialist.
“That’s a new role for her but at the same time, she was a backrow player for us last year. I’m trying to get her being a little bit more vocal and so far I’ve seen a big difference in the first few weeks in that aspect of her game. She wants the ball to come to her and is aggressive anytime the ball comes anywhere near her.”
Keaira Fillingim returns as another hitting option for the Trojanettes in her final season in the Blue and White. Fillingim, a four-year varsity letterwinner, was a second-team all-district selection last year.
“Keaira has also been with us since her freshman year on varsity. She has matured so much. She’s a lot more confident in her game this year. She’s a very smart hitter and can change things up. She’s become a vital part of our team.”
Seniors Franya Vasquez and Eryn Pennartz will fill important roles in the Trojanettes’ lineup this fall as well according to Bussey.
“Franya and Eryn bring their own energy. Each and every member of this team is vital to our success this year. They always have a positive attitude. They’ll do anything and everything for the success of our team.”
A standout since she stepped onto the court as a freshman, junior Rylee Wolf earned Defensive Player of the Year honors on the ACN Super 10 team a season ago while picking up the district’s Outstanding Hitter award. Wolf is coming off a stellar all-around season with 346 kills, 95 aces, 427 assists, 39 blocks and 332 digs.
“Rylee has always been a natural leader as well. We can set her anywhere on the court and she’s able to hit any shot we need her to. She’s been a little injured early on so I’ve moved her to the right-side. She’s improved her blocking so much over there and I’m starting to like having her over there. She can play anywhere on the front row.”
After battling injuries off and on last season, junior Annikah Frank looks to pick up where she left off after picking up Newcomer of the Year honors as a sophomore. She put down 229 kills, 38 aces, 45 blocks and 130 digs a season ago in her first volleyball season with the Trojanettes.
“Annikah has come a long way from last year after she started the season recovering from an injury over the summer. I felt like she didn’t really get going until the end of the season. This year, she’s worked hard all summer and all offseason. She’s come a long way and has been one of our go-to hitters from the get-go.
Juniors Abby Schroeder and Saige Anderson both bring a wealth of experience after starting on varsity as freshmen.
“Both Abby and Saige have varsity experience. They’re both very versatile in the fact that they can play pretty much any position on that front row. That’s one thing that’s very nice about this team. They’re all versatile and can move around and play any position we need them to to match them up with our opponents hitters. That’s something that’s going to make us very successful in the long run.”
Junior Bri Hoff is expected to split time on JV and varsity this fall and has proven to be a vital member to the Trojanettes in practice.
“Bri contributes so much in the fact that she’s making our starting six on the court be better each and every day. She pushes them and brings a lot of energy as well.”
Sophomore Megg Lindley hit the ground running as a freshman a season ago, taking first team all-district honors. She registered 542 assists, 227 digs and 59 aces running the Windthorst offense as a freshman and should only improve on those numbers with another year of experience under her belt.
“Megg is so much more confident this year. She was a little unsure of herself as a freshman but she has matured a lot. She’s very coachable and is trying to always improve at something. She’ll stay at practice every day asking what she can do better on or how she can help the team. She’s been a hitter for us this year, having to pass a little bit more on the outside and having to swing some for us. She can do anything.”
Isabelle Bussey is a sophomore that should see action on both the varsity and JV this fall.
“Isabelle will split time on varsity and JV. Each and every day in practice, she has to compete against our varsity players so not only is she improving but she’s helping our varsity lineup improve as well.”
With the experience, talent and athleticism this group possesses, Windthorst may very well return itself to its former glory in 2022.
