As they prepare for a new season, Winfield-Mount Union finds itself in the middle of a great stretch of volleyball, winning at least 21 matches over each of the last three seasons. That includes a 24-10 campaign and an undefeated conference championship last year.

Many of the senior stars that powered that team are gone, including the Co-Super Conference North Player of the Year in libero Keetyn Townsley; setter Keely Malone and her nearly 1,500 career assists; and all-conference hitters Bradie Buffington and Melina Oepping, who had 200 kills each. But Wolves head coach David Pieart tells KCII Sports that this year’s team is prepared to fill those large shoes.

“I think we’re going to be more ready than people anticipate,” Pieart says. “We were using a nine-person rotation last year, and we lost the seniors. But that brings back five people that have varsity starting experience last year [and] there was sixth that spent time in and out of the starting rotation due to injuries, so we’ve got a good core of people coming back with some experience. It’s just how quickly we can gel together and not rely on those seniors who are gone.”

One of WMU’s top returners is senior middle blocker Lily Freeman, who had 58 kills and a team-high 81 blocks. Senior Audrey Gipple returns after 81 kills last season, while seniors Tessa Huston and Aurey Meeker return to anchor the back-line defense with over 160 digs recorded each last year. Despite plenty of other new faces leading the charge, Pieart still has high expectations for this pack of Wolves.

“We are the defending conference champions,” he says, “and I would think that we can challenge for it again. I think that we can match up with the North. We will see, but right now, that’s our initial goal, to repeat as champions.”

Winfield-Mount Union will open the 2023 volleyball season by hosting Keokuk next Thursday night. The Wolves also take part in the West Branch Invitational two days later.