Lady Cats back on track after runner-up finish at home tourney

Louisburg senior Davis Guetterman tips the ball past the outstretched arms of an Olathe North player Saturday during the Louisburg Invitational.

For being the No. 1 ranked team in the state at one point, the Louisburg volleyball team has been going through some growing pains as of late.

The Lady Cats lost three of their last four matches going into the Louisburg Invitational on Saturday, but that wasn’t even the worst of it.

Louisburg also found out it would be without starting middle Allie Kennedy, who is out for the season with an injury. Kennedy, who is the tallest player on the Lady Cat roster and among the team leaders in kills, was a big absence in their lineup.

Head coach Leanna Willer spent the last week trying to figure out what would work best for her team moving forward. As it turned out, she got her answer on Saturday after her team finished second at their home tournament.

The Lady Cats won their first four matches of the day to advance to the championship match, where they lost a tough one to Shawnee Mission East, 20-25, 25-20 and 25-9.

“Overall, I thought the tournament went really well,” Willer said. “We found a rotation that seemed to work for us a little bit more. After a tough week for us, we felt like we found our groove. I was really proud of them all day. 

“Coming in we were hoping, playing five games, that we could figure some things out. We needed to figure out a rotation without Allie that was going to be successful for us and we needed to figure out what to do defensively. This tournament was really important starting off with those first two matches, where we were able to roll and set the middles a lot. Everyone was equally contributing and that is what we want to see.”

Senior Aubryn Berck receives a serve during Saturday’s Louisburg Invitational.

Junior Adyson Ross was the change for the Lady Cats as she replaced Kennedy in the middle and played all six rotations. Ross had a strong tournament with a team-high 15 aces to go along with 20 kills and 17 digs.

Ross served 11 straight points in the Lady Cats’ semifinal victory over Olathe North and helped her team cruise to the championship.

“Adyson played awesome,” Willer said. “We figured out that we want her on the court all the way around. Her defense is good, her serve receive is good and she is doing it as a middle, which has to be exhausting. She stepped up big time for us. She had some good swings and I am proud of how she has stepped up in that role, after not anticipating this at all to begin the season. She had so many aces today and her serve is very good.”

Louisburg got its day going with a 25-7 and 25-7 victory over Highland Park to begin pool play and then followed it up a 25-10 and 25-10 victory over Leavenworth. 

The Lady Cats (14-6) faced off with Shawnee Mission East in the final round of pool play and put together one of their better matches of the day in a 25-17 and 25-23 win over the Lancers.

Louisburg senior Corinna McMullen keeps the ball from going in the net Saturday.

Olathe North came calling in the semifinal and the Lady Cats made quick work of the Eagles in a 25-11 and 25-20 victory, which set up a rematch with Shawnee Mission East.

Louisburg picked up right where it left off as it won the first set, before the Lancers battled back to tie it up in the second. The Lady Cats couldn’t get much going in the third as they finished with just nine points.

“Even the second set I didn’t think was that bad,” Willer said. “Shawnee Mission East is a good team and you are going to lose some sets to good teams and going three is not that big of a deal. We’ve done it a lot lately.

“You could tell there was a momentum shift and then in the third set we had more errors than we did points. You are not going to win a lot of games like that. We were looking for someone to step up and that didn’t happen. I think we were trying, but we were trying to do too much.”

Senior libero Chase Kallevig digs up a ball Saturday during the Lady Cats’ home tournament.

Senior Corinna McMullen had a big day for the Lady Cats as she finished with a team-high 29 kills and 36 assists. She was second on the team with five blocks and 32 digs, to go along with six aces.

Davis Guetterman, another senior, had a big day from behind the service-line with 13 aces and had 35 assists and 17 kills.

Middle blocker Emma Prettyman had a team-best six blocks and finished with 22 kills. Sophomore Hailey Sword had 17 kills from her outside spot.

Senior Chase Kallevig once again led the Louisburg defense with a team-high 43 digs, while senior Aubryn Berck and Guetterman was second on the squad with 21 each. Kallevig and Berck also had nine and eight aces, respectively.

Lady Cats fall to Ottawa, Girard; beat Fort Scott

Last Tuesday, Louisburg traveled to Ottawa for a Frontier League dual, and despite getting off to a good start, left with a 3-2 setback to the Cyclones.

The Lady Cats won the first two sets, but Cyclones roared back to win the next three to hand Louisburg a 24-26, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 and 15-9 loss.

“Ottawa was very scrappy and they played very smart, and they have always been that way,” Willer said. “Their coach is smart and they pick on weaknesses like no one else. We could not block a ball and there were times they had a wide open net. We have great defenders, but they aren’t that great where they don’t need a block up. They have a lot of girls that can put the ball away. It is getting better, but we are figuring out slowly.”

Corinna McMullen and Davis Guetterman led the Lady Cats at the net with 15 and 10 kills, respectively and they each had 19 assists.

Senior Aubryn Berck led Louisburg with five aces from behind the service line, while Chase Kallevig had a team-high 18 digs.

Two days later, the Lady Cats ventured to Girard for a triangular with Fort Scott and they left there with a split.

Louisburg opened with a 25-19 and 26-24 loss to Girard, but followed it up with a 25-22 and 25-14 win over Fort Scott.

“It was a weird day,” Willer said. “In year’s past, they haven’t been as strong as they are this year. We are a little weaker at the moment than we have been, and we didn’t come in ready to play. Girard had some good swings, but they passed very well. We missed a decent amount of serves, but it wasn’t one thing that went wrong, it was kind of a combination of everything. Everything that could go wrong, did. 

“We stepped up against Fort Scott. We had the conversation where we can focus on how awful we just played, or we can turn around and figure out how to get a win out of tonight. It was nice to see they stepped up it against Fort Scott.”

McMullen had a team-high 16 kills in the triangular and Guetterman had 10 of her own. Emma Prettyman had eight kills to go along with three blocks.

Guetterman led Louisburg with 20 assists and three aces. Kallevig had a team-best 16 digs, while Berck and Claire Brown had 14 and 13, respectively.




Lady Cats’ rally falls short in home match with Spring Hill

Louisburg junior Allie Kennedy goes up for a kill during last Tuesday’s home match against Spring Hill. Kennedy had to leave with an injury in the third set.

Already down two sets to the defending league champion, the Louisburg volleyball team got even worse news later on in Tuesday’s league dual with Spring Hill.

Lady Cat starting middle blocker Allie Kennedy had to leave with an injury in the third set and the Lady Cats all of sudden found themselves with their backs against the wall.

Despite all the adversity, Louisburg found its way to claw back out. The Lady Cats used its defense to win the next two sets and force a deciding fifth.

Unfortunately, the Broncos made a few extra plays and handed Louisburg a 25-21, 25-17, 20-25, 26-28 and 15-11 loss at home.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of our team for the fight they put up against Spring Hill,” Willer said. “If you saw me after the game, I was very emotional because of how much heart these girls played with — they truly left it all out on the floor. 

“After being down 0-2, pushing to a fifth set is a feat within itself, and we did that facing even more adversity after losing Allie in the middle of the third. Spring Hill is a great team and we had to fight to earn every single point. They were not going to go down easily, but we knew that we weren’t going down without a fight either.”

Senior Aubryn Berck dives on the floor to dig up a ball against Spring Hill.

The Lady Cats were able to get back in it thanks to its defense as they kept play after play alive with key digs and several blocks.

Seniors Chase Kallevig and Aubryn Berck provided a lot of that defense as the two tied for a team-high 21 digs, while fellow senior Corinna McMullen was second with 18.

Senior Davis Guetterman and junior Adyson Ross also had double-figure digs with 11.

“Our defense, as always, kept us in that match,” Willer said. “We weren’t getting big swings and powerful kills, but we kept the ball alive long enough to keep us in the match and eventually force Spring Hill to make some errors. Those four seniors go all out on defense and made some huge plays for us down the stretch. They all have such high volleyball IQs and read hitters very well. We are very lucky to have such awesome defenders.”

Chase Kallevig returns a serve during Tuesday’s home match against Spring Hill.

Nothing seemed to be going right for the Lady Cats (9-3) early on as Spring Hill took control early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead . Then with Kennedy’s injury in the third, Willer had to make an emergency substitution as Ross replaced Kennedy in the middle.

The Lady Cats responded with a lot of fire as they went on to win the third and then take a very close fourth set, 28-26.

Louisburg got better swings later on in the match and got a team-high 11 kills from McMullen to go along with three blocks and 19 assists. Kennedy had nine kills in her limited playing time.

Junior Emma Prettyman stepped up with Kennedy down as she tallied eight kills and a team-high four blocks. Junior Claire Brown and sophomore Hailey Sword each had six kills and Sword also had two blocks.

Guetterman also had a strong day running the offense with a team-high 20 assists and also a team-high five aces. 

Senior Davis Guetterman rises up for a kill Tuesday against Spring Hill.

“It looked a little bleak,” Willer said. “Our serve and pass game wasn’t very strong in the first set, and we were making a lot of errors. However, our team made the decision that we were pushing to go to four, then to five. As far as trying to regroup after Allie’s injury, they didn’t see much choice other than giving it their all and doing whatever they could to make the team successful. 

“Girls were placed in positions they haven’t really played before and they rose to the occasion just like I knew they would. We talked about having faith in each other and trusting that every single person out there is going to do their job and give everything they have for the people standing right beside them.”

Louisburg, which went on to earn the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A later in the week, will try and bounce back today when the Lady Cats travel to Ottawa for a league dual.

“The girls were disappointed of course with the loss, but I think they were also very proud of themselves – which they should have been,” Willer said. “We played some of our best volleyball that night and we saw things out of each and every one of them that has since raised the bar for the expectations they have of each other moving forward. We all know just how much each one of us can give, so giving anything less than that moving forward will be unacceptable.”




Lady Cats finish third at Lansing Invitational

LANSING — It had its ups and downs like most tournaments tend to have, but for the Louisburg volleyball team, it was able to end the Lansing Invitational with a strong showing.

After going 2-2 in pool play, the Lady Cats moved on to the third-place match where they faced off with Basehor-Linwood. Louisburg ended it with a 25-19, 16-25 and 25-19 victory over the Bobcats.

That third place finish was a successful one for Louisburg as they went up against bigger programs throughout the day.

“Finishing third in such a high level tournament is a great accomplishment for us,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “Although we didn’t really play our best volleyball that day, we still showed up to compete and fought through some tough challenges.”

That first challenge came against Platte County (Mo.) to begin pool play. Louisburg was able to hold on for a 25-20, 15-25 and 29-27 victory.

Senior Davis Guetterman provided the Lady Cats with strong play throughout the match. She tallied a team-high three aces and 10 kills in the winning effort.

Guetterman also led Louisburg with 13 assists as she provided the spark her team needed at the moment.

“Davis Guetterman had a really fantastic match against Platte County,” Willer said. “She helped us earn that win and just kept finding ways to get the job done in a close game. Our senior leaders really worked hard to motivate and encourage their teammates to remain fired up all day long. 

“Davis, Rinny (McMullen), and Aubryn (Berck) led that charge with great energy. Emma Prettyman stepped up and started to make some very smart plays at the net. We also saw some great defense out of Aubryn, Chase Kallevig, and Adyson Ross in the back row.”

The Lady Cats suffered their first setback in their next match with a 25-18 and 25-21 loss to Blue Valley Southwest.

Louisburg was able to learn from that as they reeled off a 25-22 and 25-11 win over Olathe West, before falling in two matches to Lansing to end pool play.

“Of course we never want to lose, but when it happens we have to turn it into a learning experience,” Willer said. “Blue Valley Southwest is a very solid team, and they kept the ball in play. Unfortunately, it felt like we just kept handing the game over to them by making quite a few unforced errors. 

“I’ll give credit to them though, they definitely capitalized on the opportunities we gave them. At practice we focused a lot on being intentional with each contact and making smart choices with the ball.”

The performance in pool was good enough to earn a spot in the third place match and found the Lady Cats found themselves in a dogfight with Basehor-Linwood.

McMullen had a big performance at the net with 12 kills to lead Louisburg, but the Lady Cats also served the ball well with 10 aces. Guetterman and Ross each had three to lead Louisburg.

Defensively, McMullen, Berck and Kallevig were everywhere as McMullen had a team-high 13 digs, while Kallevig and Berck each had 12.

“At that point in the day, I think everyone was just exhausted,” Willer said. “It became a grunt match about who could work to outlast the other team. Our serving and passing were definite keys to the game as well as our defense. We also had a huge focus on limiting our errors and forcing the ball to their side of the court.”

McMullen had a big tournament for Louisburg with a team-high 34 kills. She also recorded 31 digs, five aces and a team-high 45 assists.

Defensively, Kallevig led Louisburg with 48 digs and had four aces over the five matches. Berck also had a strong tournament defensively with 34 digs and had three aces.

Guetterman was second on the team with 25 kills and 43 assists to go along with six aces.

Ross had seven aces to lead the Lady Cats, while middle blockers Allie Kennedy and Emma Prettyman had 22 and 17 kills, respectively. Prettyman also led Louisburg with five blocks and sophomore Hailey Sword tallied three.




Lady Cats win defensive match over Bonner Springs

Louisburg’s Allie Kennedy (left) and Davis Guetterman (right) congratulate Adyson Ross after a big point in Thursday’s home match against Bonner Springs.

The Louisburg volleyball team hadn’t been tested much in the early part of its schedule.

That first test came Thursday when the Lady Cats hosted Bonner Springs for a Frontier League dual. The Braves and Lady Cats finished second and third, respectively, in the Frontier League standings a year ago.

Louisburg got the best of Bonner Springs this time around as the Lady Cats recorded the 3-1 win at Louisburg High School, but it wasn’t as easy as the score indicated.

“Last night was a really big win for us,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “We are very proud of the start we’ve had to our season and we knew we would be tested by Bonner Springs. They bring a lot of energy to the court and we had a lot of fun playing against them. 

“We lost to Bonner Springs last year and they finished second in the league, so it felt good to come back and win a tight match against such a strong league opponent.”

In the process, the Lady Cats recorded their sixth straight win and have started their season perfect.

Against Bonner Springs, the Lady Cats had to work for every point, as did the Braves.

Sophomore Hailey Sword goes up for a kill Thursday against Bonner Springs.

Louisburg found itself down 8-3 to start the first set, but rallied back to eventually win 25-20 to go up 1-0.

The Lady Cats were well on their way to a win in the second set, but Bonner Springs roared back as the two teams traded blows before the Braves eventually pulled out an emotional 32-30 win in the second.

Instead of sulking, the Lady Cat responded in a big way as they won the next two sets, 25-18 and 25-19 to get the league win.

“Losing a set 32-30 is completely draining,” Willer said. “After fighting tooth and nail for so long, it can easily deflate a team’s energy, but I’m so proud of our girls for the way they responded. We knew we wanted to come right back out into that third set and take control and that’s exactly what we did. Our girls did a great job of not letting the high pressure moments get to them and we bounced right back.”

It was as strong showing defensively for both teams, but the Lady Cats were able to dig up a few more balls when they needed them

Louisburg had five players with double-figures digs and were led by senior libero Chase Kallevig, who finished with 31. Senior Davis Guetterman was next with 18, while Corinna McMullen, Aubryn Berck and Adyson Ross had 16, 15 and 13, respectively.

Setter Corinna McMullen dives on the floor to dig a ball up Thursday at home.

“Our team played really awesome defense last night and I am so proud of them,” Willer said. “We have known all along that defense is going to have to be a strong point for us, so it was great to see our defenders step up and make some big plays last night. 

“There were some crazy long rallies because of the defensive efforts on both sides of the court, and those are the ones we love. It’s a huge boost to the momentum as well as team chemistry when it’s a full-on team effort to win those long rallies.Even the middles were diving all over the floor last night.”

McMullen had a big night offensively as well. The Louisburg senior led the way with 19 kills and also led the offense with 26 assists. Guetterman was right behind her with 22 assists.

Junior Claire Brown and sophomore Hailey Sword had 10 kills each, while junior Allie Kennedy had eight.

Louisburg coach Leanna Willer cheers on her team during a long rally against Bonner Springs.

The Lady Cats also did well from behind the service line as they totaled nine aces, including two each from Ross, Kennedy, Berck and Guetterman.

The competition only gets tougher from here on out for the Lady Cats as they take part in the Lansing Invitational at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Louisburg cruises to wins over Burlington, Santa Fe Trail

On Tuesday, Louisburg ventured to Piper High School for a triangular with Burlington and Santa Fe Trail. 

The Lady Cats left with a pair of easy 2-0 wins to continue the hot start to their season.

“Our games at Santa Fe Trail and Burlington were solid wins for us,” Willer said. “At all three levels, each team came out ready to take care of business and represent Louisburg volleyball. In the varsity matches, I was able to play around with the lineup a little bit and try some different options to see what gives us the best team chemistry, and the girls rolled with each and every lineup I threw at them. 

“They may not have been the cleanest games for us, but we were still able to work on our serve and pass game which is huge for us. Starting off 6-0 is a pretty great feeling.”

Louisburg opened with Santa Fe Trail and came away with a 25-10 and 25-17 victory.

Serving was a big key for Louisburg as it tallied 14 aces on the night. Senior Davis Guetterman had seven of those and Corinna McMullen finished with five.

McMullen also led Louisburg with seven kills and had five assists. Guetterman had a team-high six.

Chase Kallevig recorded seven digs to lead the Lady Cat defense.

It was much of the same against Burlington as the Lady Cats got off to a good start in a 25-13, 25-17 victory.

McMullen was again strong serving with a team-high six aces, while Guetterman led Louisburg with six kills and Allie Kennedy added five.

McMullen also had a team-high 22 assists and Guetterman handed out 15. Kallevig had five digs to lead the defense, while Aubryn Berck and Guetterman each had four.




Lady Cats off to good start with three straight victories

Louisburg senior Davis Guetterman (left) and Allie Kennedy team up for a block during the Lady Cats’ home match with Olathe West on Thursday.

The Louisburg volleyball team got a test right off the bat last Tuesday when it had to travel to rival Paola to begin its season.

Louisburg passed with flying colors as it cruised to a 3-0 win over the Panthers and continued that momentum into Thursday’s home opener against De Soto and Olathe West.

The Lady Cats took care of business against the bigger programs as they defeated both De Soto and Olathe West, 2-0, to win three straight to start the season.

In its road tilt with Paola, Louisburg got out to a good start as it won the first set 25-18 and then responded with a 25-17 and 25-21 victory in the next two to get its first Frontier League win.

“I was very proud of how our girls played and they came ready to go,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “We did make a few more errors than we would have liked, but that’s to be expected for the first game of the season. We saw some things we need to work on, but we also saw many positives. I thought that our seniors did an excellent job leading the way with effort, intensity, and a high level of play.”

Senior setters Corinna McMullen and Davis Guetterman ran the offense well as they each recorded 15 assists on the night. McMullen had eight kills to go along with four aces, while Guetterman had three aces.

Junior middle hitter Allie Kennedy had a big night at the net with a team-high 12 kills and sophomore outside hitter Hailey Sword had eight.

Senior libero Chase Kallevig digs up a ball while teammate Aubryn Berck looks on Thursday at Louisburg High School.

“Hailey Sword stepped up and made her presence known which was really awesome to see,” Willer said. “One of the biggest positives overall was that we remained calm and in control even when we made errors. We were always looking forward to the next ball rather than thinking about the errors on the previous play.”

The Lady Cats were also strong on defense as senior Aubryn Berck and junior Adyson Ross had a team-high nine digs, while senior libero Chase Kallevig had eight.

Against De Soto on Thursday in its home debut, Louisburg continued its success and it took control from the get-go as the Lady Cats won 25-18 and 25-18.

Sword and Kennedy led the Louisburg attack at the net with eight and seven kills, respectively. McMullen and junior Claire Brown each added five.

Guetterman and McMullen combined for 25 assists and Kallevig had a team-high nine digs on defense.

It was much of the same against Olathe West as the Lady Cats cruised to a 25-20 and 25-17 victory.

Kennedy finished with a team-high six kills that led a balanced attack. Guetterman and McMullen both had five, while Sword and Emma Prettyman each tallied three.

Louisburg junior Emma Prettyman hits the ball between two De Soto defenders Thursday at home.

Guetterman led the way with 11 assists and McMullen and eight. Defensively, Kallevig had seven digs, while Kennedy and Sword each finished with two blocks.

“I was impressed with our team,” Willer said. “We adjusted the rotation a little bit from Tuesday night and they all stepped right up into their roles. Our passing and defense were very strong throughout both matches which kept us in system most of the night. 

“Allie and Emma both had some big swings and blocks which was awesome to see. We started off strong both matches and never wavered, no matter how close the game got. We are starting to see just what this team is made of.”

Louisburg is back in action tonight when it travels to Piper High School for a triangular with Burlington and Santa Fe Trail. Matches are set to begin at 4 p.m.




Lady Cats hope for return to state tournament

Louisburg junior Allie Kennedy goes up for a block on teammate Emma Prettyman during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage last Friday.

The Louisburg volleyball team may have a new coach this season, but the expectations haven’t changed at all.

Get back to the state tournament.

Louisburg has been a fixture at the Class 4A state tournament over the last decade-plus, and it was a disappointment falling short of that goal last year.

First-year head coach Leanna Willer took over for former coach Jessica Compliment, who resigned after 15 years with the program. Willer, who was the assistant coach the last four years, knows the expectations of the program.

The Lady Cats lost to the eventual state champion, Bishop Miege, in the sub-state semifinals in a close 2-0 match. The loss still lingers with many of the returning players.

“The team has set some goals for the year, and at the top of their list is making it back to the state tournament in Hutchinson,” Willer said. “They missed out on the tournament after losing a tough battle to Bishop Miege and you could surely say they are looking for revenge.

“I expect this team to show up each game day ready to give 110 percent effort. The worst thing as a coach or player is to walk away from a game knowing that we could have given more and maybe should have won that game. I don’t expect to win every single match this season, but I do expect that we work hard to put our best foot forward to give ourselves every opportunity.”

Louisburg, which finished with 21 wins a season ago, returns six players that all saw varsity time last season as the Lady Cats had to play through an injury-plagued season.

It all starts with the quarterbacks on the floor as the Lady Cats will once again run 6-2 offense with senior setters Corinna McMullen and Davis Guetterman leading the way.

Senior Davis Guetterman sets a teammate up during the team’s scrimmage last Friday.

McMullen led the Lady Cats in kills and assists a year ago and was a first-team all-league and second team all-state selection.

Guetterman missed part of her junior season with an injury, but was a big factor on the floor when she returned. Both players have started for the Lady Cats all four years.

“I am probably the luckiest first year head coach out there,” Willer said. “There are so many things that I simply don’t have to worry about with these two running the floor and being leaders on and off the court. I trust them to make the right decisions on the court, and I know how badly they want this team to be successful.”

Louisburg does lack height across the net as the Lady Cats just have one 6-foot player in junior middle blocker Allie Kennedy, who started last year for Louisburg after missing the beginning of her season with an injury.

With the lack of height at the net, the Lady Cats will rely on their defense this season as they have several returning players in Guetterman, McMullen and senior libero Chase Kallevig.

Kallevig has started in the back row the last three years for Louisburg and brings an experienced presence in the back. Newcomer Aubryn Berck, a senior transfer, also figures to see a lot of time as a defensive specialist. Senior Catie Lemke will see time there as well. 

“Our defense is definitely going to have to step up this year,” Willer said. “That being said, I do believe we have one of the stronger defensive teams we’ve had lately. All five seniors are great defenders, and our outsides are stepping up to the plate as well. I think everyone on the team understands that we’re going to have to be scrappy and fight to keep balls alive all throughout the season.”

The Lady Cats did lose a lot of hitting from a season ago, including middle Carleigh Pritchard, who is now at Emporia State, along with starters Alyse Moore and Alison Prettyman.

Junior Adyson Ross will be one of several hitters the Lady Cats will look to for production this season.

Juniors Adyson Ross and Claire Brown, along with sophomore Hailey Sword, will be the outside options for Louisburg. Junior Emma Prettyman will also play in the middle alongside Kennedy.

“We are expecting big things out of our middles this year,” Willer said. “Allie and Emma should be solid offensive threats. On the pins, Hailey,  Adyson and Claire are looking to fill those roles left by last year’s graduated seniors. Both Corinna and Davis will potentially be six-rotation threats as each of them are powerful hitters as well.”

To start the season, Louisburg was ranked sixth in the Class 4A preseason poll by the Kansas Volleyball Association. The Lady Cats will be well-tested throughout the season as they feature their normal rigorous schedule.

It begins today when the Lady Cats travel to Paola for a Frontier League dual.

“Our league is tough again this year,” Willer said. “Spring Hill (ranked 4th in 5A) will be tough to beat as well as Bonner Springs (5A). Ottawa (ranked 4th in 4A), Eudora, and Paola will all have strong teams in the mix too. League nights are always competitive, and the rest of our schedule is no cake walk either. 

“We see multiple 5A and 6A schools throughout the year both in regular season matches and also at tournaments, starting with De Soto and Olathe West and home on Thursday. We love to play a competitive schedule and test ourselves throughout the season to see what we’re made of, and hopefully get to beat some good teams.”




In Good Hands: Louisburg setters ready for one final run together

Louisburg seniors Corinna McMullen (left) and Davis Guetterman have started since their freshman year as setters and are excited for their last season together.

Throughout time, there have been hundreds of famous dynamic duos that people remember fondly.

Whether it was Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Spongebob and Patrick, Batman and Robin or even macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly – one was never quite the same without the other.

Louisburg volleyball has its own memorable duo in Rinny and Davis. Members of the team or its fans can’t talk about one without thinking of the other. 

They are two peas in a pod, as they say.

Seniors Corinna McMullen and Davis Guetterman have been what has made the Lady Cats go the last four years as they return for their final season as the Louisburg setters.

“There are times in most of our lives where we wish we could make like six clones of ourselves,” McMullen said. “I feel like Davis and I are clones of each other. We always know what the other one is thinking. We are literally the same person and I think it is effective in every aspect on and off the court.”

Most teams, especially in Class 4A, are lucky enough to have one experienced setter — but the Lady Cats have been blessed with two.

Both were thrown into the starting lineup their freshman year and Louisburg has run a 6-2 offense ever since.

“I think it makes it easier on the players since we have been running the program for four years and they haven’t had to adjust to a new setter,” Guetterman said. “It is almost as important as the quarterback in football. We both run the same tempo stuff and it is easy to stay in the same system.

“It is easier for most coaches to trust just one person for the job, rather than splitting it into two people and saying you have to do the same job. But I think Rinny and I both work really well together.”

It has shown on the court as the two setters have helped the Lady Cats to a second-place state finish as freshmen and a fourth-place finish as sophomores. Louisburg was on track to make it to another state tournament in 2020, but the Lady Cats ran into Bishop Miege, the eventual state champion, in sub-state and lost a very competitive match.

That continuity is what the Lady Cats hope will help them get to their third state tournament in the last four years.

“It is very difficult to find two setters who can play at the varsity level and deliver the same ball to all of the hitters – their consistency is almost unreal,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “It’s even more rare to have two setters that are also some of the best hitters and passers on the team. Considering they have been running a varsity 6-2 their entire high school careers (aside from a few injuries), it’s incredible that they have both continued to elevate their play and push each other to be better while still working together the whole time. 

“They are constantly cheering each other on and pushing each other. You don’t see competition between the two of them because they choose to compete as a unit, and I think that’s what I’m proudest of as a coach. They don’t worry about comparing their stats. They just go out there to win games and will settle for nothing less.”

As if setting wasn’t stressful enough, both players have also been asked to hit as they play all six rotations.

McMullen, who earned first-team all-league honors as a setter, finished last year with a team-high 207 kills and 439 assists – which is a rarity for one player to lead their team in both categories.

“It was a growing opportunity for both of us,” McMullen said. “We had never been put in a role where we were expected to do great things. It is was just super exciting and pushed us out of our comfort zone and it made us grow a lot more of players.”

Injuries hampered part of Guetterman’s season a year ago, which didn’t allow her to hit as much and hurt her chances at postseason honors, despite accounting for 35 aces, 226 assists and 102 digs. The team wasn’t quite the same during that stretch.

“Rinny and I play the best when we are on the court together,” Guetterman said. “Last year, we both hit and set and then I got injured. I did more just setting after that, we just always know what the other one is thinking. That helps a lot, especially since we are hitting now and we both know where the other wants the ball.”

It is the type of psychic intuition that has helped them be successful and they have seen themselves grow since their freshman season.

Davis Guetterman sets a teammate up for a kill during a match last season.

“Now we are more leaders,” Guetterman said. “As a freshman, I just didn’t want to mess up. We were playing with Anna (Dixon), who is a Division 1 athlete (University of Missouri), and I just didn’t want to make mistakes. Before we just didn’t want to mess up and now we both expect certain things out of our hitters.”

As important as the two are on the court, they also do a lot of things off the court that led them to both be selected captains for the upcoming season.

Not only do they encourage each other, they also bring energy to the team, which is vital part to their 2021 season.

“We expect everyone to give 100 percent,” McMullen said. “We picked a sport where it is about more than just your individual self. This is about the person next to you and the 10 people on your team. It is about family, and I think when we understand that, we are going to come together so well.”

Louisburg senior Corinna McMullen led the Lady Cats in both kills and assists last season.

With it being their final high school season, both players have put in everything they can to make this year a memorable one.

“As a freshman, you can’t really help those around you, because you feel like a tiny person,” Guetterman said. “As a senior, I feel like we can more motivate more people. It is kind of sad because it has gone by super fast. I told Willer at our meeting at the beginning of the season that I don’t want to waste any more time. Three years has flown by. I want her to hold us accountable. It stinks in the moment where you are having to run that extra lap or whatever, but that is what is going to make you better in the long run.”

However, volleyball will be far from their rear view mirror when the season is over. Earlier this year, McMullen committed to play at Washburn University, while Guetterman committed to the University of Sioux Falls — both Division II programs.

It has been long journey that both have enjoyed being a part of, together.

“I think it is a gift from God that my best friend and I play on the same team in both club and high school now,” McMullen said. “We grew up together through it all. It is unique that we are both at the same school and have the same qualities. We want the team to be successful as we can and we start with the basics with each other. Our connections is what drives the team to be greater.”

Greatness has been synonymous with Rinny and Davis and they hope to end their run with a state trophy. 

“They have made it very clear that they expect to be back at the state tournament at the end of October, holding a plaque when it’s all said and done,” Willer said. “I think they are aware that we have a special group this year and we are going to have the opportunity to make some noise at the state level if we continue to work hard and play as one unit.”

No matter what happens though, both players are ready for whatever the season, and future, holds in store.

“Our slogan this year is ‘The Tradition Continues’ and just because of the setback we had with COVID and the changing of coaches, the tradition is still going to continue no matter who graduates or who is going to come up,” McMullen said. “Since both of us have the opportunity to play for four more years in college, it isn’t as upsetting to me. I love high school, but we have a lot to look forward to. This is the beginning to the end, to another beginning.”




OPINION: Wildcat success provides getaway from ‘real world’ problems

There hasn’t been a whole lot of good to talk about in the last year or so.

Our life has changed around us. We are having to deal with a new normal and there are a lot uncertainties as to what our future holds. 

It is an unnerving time for a lot of people and our country seems more divided than ever. Still, to get by in this difficult time, you have to look for positives.

For me, the last school year brought me some of the best moments in my journalistic life. The 2020-21 school was arguably one of the most successful seasons in Louisburg High School history from top to bottom, and I was more than grateful to be there for it all.

Just look at what was accomplished last year:

  • Boys cross country qualified for state for the first time in school history.
  • Girls cross country placed at state for the first time in its history as they took third in Class 4A. Maddy Rhamy, Lola Edwards and Reese Johnson also earned medals.
  • Boys soccer had its best finish in school history with a 3rd place state finish.
  • Boys basketball advanced to the state championship game for the first time and took second.
  • Girls basketball advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 47 years and recorded its best finish in third.
  • Wrestlers Alec Younggren and Cade Holtzen took second and third, respectively, at the state tournament.
  • Boys golf qualified for state as a team.
  • Girls soccer made an improbable run to advance to its fourth straight state final four and the Wildcats took fourth.
  • Delaney Wright won three state track titles in the long jump, 200 dash and 400 dash and broke all three school records in the process.
  • Maybe perhaps the best accomplishment of all, the Louisburg boys track and field team won the Class 4A state championship as they edged out Andale for the title.

Just a year removed from losing their spring season due to COVID-19, the Wildcats came back stronger than ever and it showed. It was an exciting time to be a Louisburg sports fan.

However, with so much positivity from last season, it is time to turn the page and focus on what the 21-22 season has in store.

First day of fall practice begins this Monday and the football, volleyball, cross country and boys soccer team all have a chance to do some special things this season. I am fortunate I will be able to be there once again to cover it all.

As I talked about earlier, there is a lot of negativity going on in the world right now, but I am more than thankful to have a job where I can get away from all that and cover all the special moments. 

Last season was a much-needed get away for me and it was an unbelievable journey to see all the Wildcat history that was made.

This year has another chance to be a special one. There is no way to predict what will happen, but I do know there is a chance for even more history and records to fall this upcoming year.

Football numbers are up and the Wildcats are poised for a big season, while the cross country, volleyball and boys soccer team all return several key pieces to make a run in the postseason – and that is just what the fall will hold.

The seasons can’t get here soon enough and I am ready to cover it all once again. Hope to see you all out there supporting the Wildcats and maybe you can forget all those stresses in life — even if it is just for a few moments.




Willer excited for opportunity to lead Louisburg volleyball

Leanna Willer is in her first year as head coach of the Louisburg volleyball program, as she takes over for former head coach Jessica Compliment, who spent 15 years leading the Lady Cats.

Louisburg High School volleyball has always had a proud tradition.

The Lady Cats have become a regular fixture at the state tournament since the program’s inception and expectations are high every year. 

It was that way under head coach Jessica Compliment as she guided Louisburg to eight state tournament appearances and placed in the top four in seven of them in her 15 years at the helm.

Now it is Leanna Willer’s turn to create her own mark on the program. Willer was hired to replace Compliment, who stepped down last spring, and has nearly completed her first summer with her new team.

“It means the world to me to be able to take over a program with such a rich history of success,” Willer said. “Louisburg has been a volleyball powerhouse with a tradition of winning that we aim to keep moving forward. I recognize that I have some very big shoes to fill, but having Coach Compliment’s support is helping to make this a smooth transition. I am beyond excited for my first head coaching job.”

Willer is a graduate of Washburn University where she was one of the top players during her time with the program. She is the individual career leader in attempts (4,980), second in kills (1,666) and third in kills per set (3.62) and overall points scored (1,870.5).

She also earned All-MIAA honors all four years and was a 2-time unanimous selection. She twice earned Academic All-American honors, was a two-time All-American and was the team MVP on two different occasions. 

“I have such a love for the game of volleyball and I can’t wait to share that with the whole program,” Willer said. “I feel very fortunate to have a lot of experience as a volleyball player and as an assistant coach (in volleyball and other sports) that I can take on this role at my age. I am sure that there will be bumps along the way, but I know that I am prepared to rise to the challenge.”

Willer has spent the last four seasons as the junior varsity coach under Compliment and learned a lot during that time.

Unlike some new head coaches, Willer will already have the advantage of knowing the players, which she hopes will make for a smoother transition.

“I know the traditions and experiences these girls have had throughout high school, so it’s nice that we can dive right into the game this summer already knowing a lot of each other’s tendencies as players and as a coach,” she said. “We won’t have to spend as much time getting to know each other as I would if I began coaching at another school. Naturally, we’ll have to make some adjustments as we get used to our new roles, but I think we are all excited to continue right where we left off.”

She will also benefit from a five-member seniors class. Setters Rinny McMullen, Davis Guetterman and a defensive specialist in Chase Kallevig are returning senior starters that will help lead the way in Willer’s first season.

“I’m also very excited about the senior leadership we’ll have this year,” Willer said. “I know I’ll be able to rely on them throughout my first year as a head coach. I met with them separately, and they’ve shared some awesome ideas. This will be their team and I’m impressed with the ownership they’re taking already. Their commitment and dedication to Louisburg volleyball will not go unnoticed.”

As far any changes within in the program, Willer believes it would unnecessary to change things up much, but there might be a few minor differences than what some are used to seeing.

“With the amount of success we’ve experienced, it seems silly to reinvent the wheel and change things up a bunch,” she said. “However, people will see little changes here and there as Coach Compliment and I are different people with different personalities and coaching styles. Though I would love to sit here and say I have it all figured out, this will be a continuous learning process for me as well and I will constantly be learning, reflecting, and developing as a coach. 

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to be the head coach of this program. The overwhelming support from the players, the school, and the community has me itching to get back out there on the court so we can show everyone what we’re made of.”




Alyse Moore named 2021 Louisburg Sports Zone Female Athlete of the Year

Success has seemed to follow Alyse Moore wherever she goes. 

It isn’t by chance, however — Moore has made her own luck.

Whether it was helping the Louisburg girls basketball team to its best finish in school history, eclipsing the 500 rebound plateau or earning a state medal and breaking the school record in the javelin, Moore had a big year for Wildcat athletics.

Those were just some of the reasons Moore was named the 2021 Louisburg Sports Zone Female Athlete of the Year.

“It means everything to me to be honored as the Female Athlete of the Year,” Moore said. “I am super thankful to have gotten the opportunity to be an athlete at Louisburg and it is great to be able to be rewarded for that.”

Moore began the school year as the starting outside hitter for the Louisburg volleyball team and ended as an honorable mention All-Frontier League player.

She was second on the Lady Cats with 174 kills and also played well on defense as she was second on the team with 195 digs. She also had 19 aces.

“Alyse is an extremely hard worker and was a joy to coach for four years,” former Louisburg volleyball coach Jessica Compliment said. “Her hard work and leadership paid off as a multi-sport athlete, and I enjoyed seeing her excel in each sport. She had a way of bringing out the best in her teammates and pushed herself and her teammates to be the best they could be. Alyse is very deserving of this award, and I am very happy for her.”

On the basketball court, Moore made an even bigger impact as she helped the Lady Cats to a third place finish at the Class 4A state tournament, which the program’s best finish in school history. It was also the first state appearance for the program in 47 years.

Along with eclipsing the 500 career rebound mark, Moore was also an honorable mention all-league player. She led Louisburg in rebounding with 8.6 boards a game to go along with 7.3 points and 1.7 steals.

She also earned honorable mention all-state honors from Sports in Kansas and the Wichita Eagle.

“Alyse is very talented in several different sports, but I feel Alyse is deserving because of her hard work and effort,” Louisburg basketball coach Adrianne Lane said. “No matter what season, Alyse would work hard and contribute to her team. It was an honor coaching Alyse in basketball. She would do whatever the team needed to win and she set a great example for everyone with her effort in practice and her positive attitude.”

It was that tournament run that stuck out to Moore the most and it was a time she will never forget.

“I would have to say my all time favorite memory from this year was the Labette County game that brought us to Salina,” Moore said of the team’s state quarterfinal win. “I have never played in such a loud and fun environment and I am so lucky to have been able to have that experience and get to be in the final four with all of my best friends. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.”

That success continued over to the javelin as Moore recorded her state straight state medal in the event as she finished fourth. In the process, Moore also broke a 20-year-old school record with a throw of 149 feet.

Next season, Moore will throw for the University of Kansas track and field team as she continues to try and improve in an event she just started trying three years ago.

“Alyse is an amazing student-athlete,” Louisburg girls track coach John Reece said. “She has a great work ethic and that carries over into competition and her leadership as a teammate. She was always willing to put in the extra time needed to make herself even better. This showed with her breaking a longtime javelin record and competing on the big stage at the state meet.

“Since having her in the classroom to now, she has held a high standard for herself and has achieved great things. She will be an asset at the next level and I expect to read about her doing great things in the future.”

Moore also made a little more history following the team’s state tournament run in basketball. She became the first female athlete in school history to participate in four different state athletic events.

As as sophomore in 2019, she went to state in both softball and track. Moore has also placed at the state tournament with both the volleyball and basketball teams.

“To be able to be the first female athlete in school history to participate in the state tournament in four different sports is honestly a dream come true,” Moore said. “It is an amazing opportunity to be able to compete at the state tournament even once, and to be able to do that in four different sports makes me beyond proud. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and my teammates and I can’t thank them enough.”

Playing in multiple sports has taught Moore different things when it came to competing and other aspects of team sports. It was a memorable four years for the recent Louisburg grad.

“Each sport is slightly different in their own way, but I love each and every one of them and I still have a tough time deciding which one was my favorite,” Moore said. “I loved the crazy celebrations on the court in volleyball. I loved the bond that you create with your teammates in basketball, and I loved the reflection of hard work and technique in track. I enjoyed each sport so much.

“I am so thankful for my time at LHS and for all of my amazing coaches and teammates. I also would like to thank my parents for motivating me every day to work hard and be a good person while doing so. I am going to miss being able to play sports in front of such a supportive community and with unbelievably great people.”