There is a change in the air for one of the best teams in Southeast Iowa Super Conference volleyball. A new head coach and some familiar faces will lead the WACO Warriors this season. Danae Drish takes over for Jay Coble as head coach and will look to keep up WACO’s success from the past few seasons, where they’ve won at least 21 matches over each of the last four seasons and went 27-7 in 2022.

One of the biggest pieces to replace for the Warriors is setter Grace Coble, the Co-Player of the Year in the Super Conference North. Coble handed out a league-high 600 assists while also putting up 117 kills, 55 serving aces, 189 digs and 28 blocks. Also gone is kills leader Ellah Kissell, who had 259 digs to go with 248 kills, and defensive specialist Jocelyn Fulton, who led the squad with 365 digs.

Two of WACO’s top hitters from last season are back. Senior Marie Farmer was one of the state’s best servers, finishing tied for second in Class 1A with 97 aces while also posting 117 kills. Senior middle blocker Emma Wagler also returns for the Warriors after putting up 163 kills and 56 blocks.

Seniors Halle Sherman, Meredith Roth and Zoey Dennler also return to the starting rotation. WACO begins the 2023 campaign tonight by hosting their annual tournament. The Warriors will face Centerville, Pekin and Van Buren County this evening.