Ross Cole
Student Sports Media
The Butler Grizzlies volleyball team has had a roller coaster season so far, but have managed to stay above .500 as they hit the downhill slide of their 2019 season.
First year Head Coach Lisa Lechtenberg has gained good relationships with her new players and has led her team to understand the game of volleyball better.
“In the past couple of weeks we have talked about playing Butler volleyball and taking care of our side of the court,” Coach Lechtenberg said after the team’s upset win over Hutchinson on Monday, Sept. 23.
Butler started the season 2-0 beating Lamar Community College and Trinity Valley Community College. They then hit a wall of loses spanning over five games. The women have picked up the pace during the middle weeks of September going on a seven game win streak.
Butler’s current record is 13-9, and the 13 matches that they have won, their record by set is 39-5. When the Grizzlies win they do not have any trouble getting to the three set mark on their opponents.
Sophomore Amalie Rupertova, who was named KJCCC DI ‘Offensive Player of the Week’ on Tuesday, Oct. 8 for the first time this season, leads the team in kills with 181 and Freshman Morgan Bryand comes in right behind her with 166 kills. Rupertova is ranked in the KJCAA at 104 in total kills and 117 in kills per set. Sydney Scanlon has been Butler’s main setter throughout the season. She has had 618 assists to her teammates and averages more than eight assists per set. Scanlon is ranked No. 27 in the KJCAA for assists.
Butler faced off against North East Community College and North Platte at the Ramada Inn Classic in Columbus, Nebraska, on Friday, Oct. 4, and Fort Scott and Central Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Grizzlies went 3-1 on during the weekend and made their presence known against the three Nebraska teams that they played.
Butler looks to the future for the upcoming games, hungry for a shot at a win in the post season. Last year, they lost to Barton Community College in the post season and in 2017 lost in three sets to Garden City.
Butler took on Garden City on Friday, Oct. 11. The Grizzlies are on the home stretch of the KJCCC with only five conference matchups left. Butler will end the season at home on Friday, Nov. 1.
Note: Stats are updated as of Thursday, Oct. 10.