Shelby Rupprecht will once again be at the helm for her third season with the Silver Lake volleyball team. She is joined by assistant coach Caitlin Crowe. Both coaches are Silver Lake alumni whose passion for the Mustangs runs deep. The 2024 volleyball campaign ended with a tough subdistrict that finished the Mustangs’ season with a 14-15 record. Silver Lake lost six seniors to graduation; however, the team is not full of new faces; all 7 starters are returning players for the Mustangs. They return their senior libero, Sophie Schmidt, who averaged 7.1 digs per set and earned first-team conference accolades. Additionally, they return senior middle blocker MaKenna Karr, who helped the Mustangs offensively and defensively last season, with 2.3 kills per set and 25 blocks; she led the Mustangs in kills for the season with 190. Karr will aid the Mustangs as an outside hitter, a role she has played before and finds comfortable. Libby Soucek, who played a huge role as a freshman setter and opposite hitter last season, will also continue to set for the Mustangs and hit opposite. Her co-setter, Kerra Hofstetter, is stepping into a new position as setter and opposite hitter. However, Hofstetter earned some starting roles and valuable experience last year as a junior. Rounding out the starting roles are two seniors and a sophomore: senior Karah Bartels and sophomore Brooklyn Himmelberg will cover the net in the middle blocker position. Senior Kamille Karr steps in to fill the outside hitting position. The group looks to expand on its success and use scrappy defense to propel the team to victory this season. Their subdistrict features all Twin Valley Conference teams, which will allow them to know their opponents well as the season proceeds down the stretch. Good luck, Lady Mustangs!