The volleyball Bravettes were a young varsity team last season.
They’re young this year, too, with at least five of the eight players listed on a pre-season roster ranking as underclassmen.
But they are experienced. Coming off a 20-17 season, they just may be pretty good, too.
Before last season started, Coach Katie Dunlap’s team learned it would start the season without top returning hitter Shateah Wetering, who had a leg problem.
Wetering, now on a basketball scholarship at Iowa, wound up sitting out the season.
That meant younger Bravettes had to step up – which they did. It didn’t hurt that some of them were tall – four members of this year’s squad are 5-10 or taller.
Ashlyn Krousie, just 5-6 but a strong-in-the-air jumper and a smart defender, led the team in kills with 270 as a sophomore. She also led with 44 ace serves.
The Bravettes graduated setter Waverly Roorda, front line player Shelby Conger and defensive ace Maddy McKeag.
But returning is Katie Reynolds, a 5-5 junior, who was the backup setter a season ago and had 246 assists.
Up front, Montezuma has 5-11 junior middle hitter Korrinn Kehoe, 5-10 right side hitter Shanae Wetering, 5-10 senior middle hitter Dylan Holland, and 5-11 junior middle hitter Lauren Klos.
Holland led last year’s team with 68 blocks and served at an .876 percentage.
Shanae Wetering had 35 blocks.
Kehoe served at an .896 rate.
Others with experience are 5-6 senior defensive specialist Kierstyn Price and 5-6 junior defensive specialist Allyson Larmore.
More Bravettes: Kailey Shaffer, 5-7 junior defensive specialist; Kallie Robison, 5-10 sophomore middle hitter; Izzy Roorda, 5-4 freshman outside hitter, and Tia Shaffer, 5-3 junior setter.
The season is at hand. The Bravettes open in the Albia tournament on Monday, Aug. 24, with the event starting at 4 p.m.
