Indians are versatile group

Not knowing what the lineup is going to look like as the season nears is not rare.

A lot of teams stand in that situation because of youth or inexperience. The Fort Recovery volleyball program is different.

Although coach Diana Rammel lost four key players to graduation, the reason she isn't sure what her starting group is going to look like is because she has so many players who can do different things well.

Senior Nicole Pottkotter is the returning leader in most statistical categories, including kills and assists. She could set, or she could play middle hitter.

Josie Guggenbiller also shared setting duties a year ago.

But Rammel is planning on using her as an outside hitter as well.

Emily May is the top returning player in digs after playing libero last season.

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However, she could play one of the outside hitter spots and has even played at middle hitter in her career.

The plan for the Indians is each of those players, and others, will play multiple positions depending on the rotation.

"I have so many people that can play so many places," said Rammel, who has a third setter in Carly Staugler and a mostly experienced roster with eight seniors. "I've got lots of options."

The Indians graduated their top attacker, Kinsey Wenning (223 kills), top setter, Kelsey Wuebker (364 assists), and top net defender, Anne Koesters (64 blocks), as well as Joanna Snyder (146 kills, 187 digs). But they have a lot of talent returning.

Pottkotter is the most versatile of the bunch following a season in which she recorded 129 kills - she had a percentage of 37.2 - and 288 assists. She is also the returning leader in blocks (30), and is No. 2 in both digs (176) and aces (16).

"I can't say enough about her," said Rammel. "She's just a great player all the way around. I can ask her to play any position. She's just good at it.

"She's an aggressive player, and she plays hard."

Holly Brunswick, who had 115 kills and 26 blocks a year ago, and Chelsea Leuthold will also be key to the Tribe front line. Guggenbiller, who followed Pottkotter with 118 assists last season but had just five kills, will also play as an outside hitter.

"(Holly and Chelsea) are both big guns," said Rammel. "(Josie) may not be the strongest, but right now consistency is what I need. She's going to get the ball over for me. ... That earns her a position as a hitter."

Rammel also said Guggenbiller has stepped into a leadership role with the team.

"She's like a second coach," said Rammel. "She's always helping people out. She's just got those good leadership qualities. She's just a good kid."

May, who had 296 digs and 21 aces last season, or Alyssa Brackman (121 digs) could both play libero. Or the team may go without the defensive position in an effort to maximize the lineup's versatility.

Others who will see court time include Shelby Brunswick and Olivia Thien.

"I have a team where they're all going to play," Rammel said.

The Indians are coming off of a season of mixed results.

Fort Recovery finished with an 11-13 record in 2008. In the tournament it defeated New Knoxville and then pushed Marion Local, the eventual Division IV state champion, to five games in the sectional championship match.

Rammel is focused on getting back to a winning record this season as her team went 12-12 in 2007 before finishing two games under .500 last season.

"I expect these girls to win most of their matches," said Rammel. "They're just a strong group. They work well together and they get along.

"These girls, they know what it takes to win. They don't like losing. This group of girls is just competitive. They'll do what it takes to win."[[In-content Ad]]