Lincoln College Lady Lynx Volleyball Set To Begin Season
The Lincoln College Volleyball team will play their first match of the 2017 season on Tuesday

[August 22, 2017]   LINCOLN - The excitement level was high at the final practice of the preseason for the 2017 Lady Lynx volleyball team. LC wrapped up their week of multiple daily practice sessions on Monday and is set to open their season up with a road match at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, IL on Tuesday evening. LC Coach Mark Tippett is pleased with where his team is at as they head into the season. “Our players have really worked hard this week, and I expect that work to pay off with an exciting team to watch play,” said Tippett.

This year’s squad features ten players from last year’s team that went 22-13. Coach Tippett credits the high percentage of returning players for the team’s ability to get off to a fast start in the preseason. “We have been able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time this year because our players came in fit and ready to pick up where we left off last year,” said Tippett. “We return starters at most positions, so this is one of the most experienced teams we have had here in a long time.”

One of the team leaders that Coach Tippett will rely on this season is sophomore Kaylyn Hoffert from Lincoln. The 2016 Lincoln Community High School grad received All-Conference and All-Region honors her freshman season. The 5’11” outside hitter led last year’s team with 303 kills, which were enough to rank her in the top 100 kill leaders nationally. Hoffert says she is excited to get the season going. “I think our strength this season will be our hitting. During preseason we have had very competitive practices and put in a lot of hard work,” said Hoffert.

Another key returning starter will be Abbi Buelow, a setter from Rockford who led LC in assists last season. In addition to looking to connect with Hoffert, Buelow will have a pair of returning starters at middle hitter to work with who have the height and athleticism to dominate at the net. Sophomores Elysa Smith (Metamora) and Cassidy Sanneman (Henry) are each 6’2” and have put in a lot of work in the off season to improve their game.

Coach Tippett is happy with their progress, “I am very impressed with how strong our middles have looked this week,” said Tippett, “I expect them to be a bigger part of our offensive attack this year, and I know that with Elysa and Cassidy on the floor we can count on a solid block in the middle in all six rotations.”

Lincoln will also have stability on the right side as starter Mattie Giese (Highland Park) will return this season to bring a strong offensive attack and explosive right side/outside hitter Mikayla Seibert (Mackinaw) will see significant time at both positions. On defense, the Lynx can count on returning libero Melanie Murray (Chicago) and defensive specialist Erica King (Atlanta) to provide ball control and speed in the back row. Murray will enter her junior year at LC, and King is the team’s only senior. Sophomore setters Makayla Suelter (Peoria) and Jenna Weller (Salt Fork) will be part of the team’s 6-2 setting system. They have each been impressive in preseason work and have shown the ability to keep the offense working at a high level.

The Lady Lynx have added four new players to the roster this season, and Coach Tippett says he is confident they can contribute right away. Outside hitter Maddie Malinowski comes to LC from the highly successful program at Bloomington Central Catholic. Malinowki started on the teams that won the Class AA State Championship in 2015 and took fourth place in the State Tournament in 2016. Megan Gilliam is a libero from Waterloo, IL who has shown herself to be an aggressive defender and should help keep the team’s defense solid in a variety of roles. Right side hitter Ashlee Gotter joins the team from Woodland High School and has played for the Illini Elite club program. Rounding out the 2017 freshman class is defensive specialist Ciara Yon from Granite City, IL.

Lincoln will have their first home matches of the season this weekend. On Friday, August 25th at 6:00 pm they will take on Lincoln Trail CC and on Saturday, the 26th the team will host a four-team event featuring Mac Murray College, Joliet Junior College and Waubonsee CC. Matches will begin at 11:00 am.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information.]