2021 Gustavus volleyball team (photo courtesy of SPX Sports)
SAINT PETER, Minn. – After nearly two years from regular conference season play due to the pandemic, the Gustavus volleyball team is set to begin its 2021 season with a home opener Wednesday against Bethany Lutheran at 7 p.m.
The Gusties finished with a 5-3 spring season season record, with wins against tough conference opponents. “Going through different things because of Covid and just having an unprecedented year, I think our team dealt with it the best way they could have,” said Head Coach Rachelle Sherden. “The way that they handled it and the way that they competed against very strong teams in our conference, built up a lot of excitement. Going into this season, I think it benefited our team chemistry and confidence in playing and being so resilient in facing such adversity.”
The Gusties return 12 players from their 2019 roster, which posted a 14-15 overall record and 7-4 mark in the MIAC. Sherden, who is in her 12th season as the head coach, looks to her returners to lead the way.
“It’s been awesome to see leaders and returners step up and take ownership and accountability in our philosophies and expected behaviors on and off the court and take pride in it,” Sherden said. “We have a smaller first-year class than normal where they’re fitting right in which can be credited to the way our team is taking them in under their wing and encouraging them to speak up which has been very cool to see.”
Among those returners is Kate Holtan (Sr., Rochester). Holtan finished the 2019 season earning an All-American honorable mention nod for the third consecutive year, as well as making All-Conference and All-Region after leading the MIAC with 402 kills during the regular season, while her 3.79 kills per set were also tops in the conference. Without stepping off the court in 2019, Holtan was solid in the back row, amassing 317 digs in 29 matches, while also notching 40 service aces. She went over 10 kills in 24 matches, including 14-straight to end the season. Holtan also posted her career-high for kills in a match on Oct. 5 when she put up 25 in Gustavus’s 3-1 win over Hamline. The Rochester native added 14 double-doubles on the year, giving her 37 in her career. Holtan currently has 1,233 kills in her career, eighth all-time in Gustavus history, while her 962 career digs rank 11th.
Joining her in the lineup as an All-Conference returner in Hailey Embacher (Sr., Mankato). Embacher took over as the team’s libero with the departure of Brittany Luethmers in 2019 and had a solid junior campaign in the back row for the Black and Gold. Embacher ranked third in the MIAC with 552 digs in 29 matches, averaging 5.26 per set. The senior was also strong on the serve, notching 40 service aces, finishing fifth most in the conference. Embacher notched double-digit digs in all but two matches for the Gusties, eclipsing 15-plus in 23 of the teams 29 matches, including a career high of 31 on Oct. 12 in the team’s match versus UW-La Crosse. In her career with the Black and Gold, Embacher has 897 digs, 130 assists, and 69 service aces.
Kylee Cox (Sr., Brooklyn Center) returns in the back row as the team’s fierce defender, finishing her 2019 campaign with 199 digs and a .95 receiving percentage. Annalee Olson-Sola (Sr., Northfield) appeared in 89 sets in the 2019 season and tallied 158 kills.
“We’re just really excited for this team and this program,” Sherden said. “We know that there are ebbs and flows in the season and we’re going to face adversity. It won’t be perfect and even that’s how preseason has been. They’ve demonstrated what they learned last year as far as bouncing back and not holding on to the little things in the gym and it’s exciting to see the potential that the team has and to get started with actual competition.”