The North Butler volleyball team won 10 of their final 13 matches to track down a 19-16 overall finish. It was the Bearcats’ first .500 or better record since 2021 (20-14). Head Coach Sarah Goodrich.
“It truly came from the effort that these girls gave every single day, every practice, every match we played. They truly just showed up and gave everything they had. Their leadership, how they held each other accountable and just brought themselves together for the team,” says Goodrich. “Truly it was a lot of fun to kind of watch them, turning those hard moments into learning moments and memories that I personally won’t forget. Then just the way that they set goals for themselves and made things happen.”
The Bearcats were supported on and off the court by six seniors, including captain Amelia Thompson, Alexis Rose, Kylie Knoll, Colby Wix, Emma Ulrich and Eliska Sirotiak. Wix, Ulrich and Sirotiak were sidelined due to injuries.
The future is bright for the Bearcats as projected returners had standout seasons. Sophomore Addison Ulrich was the top attacker with 188 kills, at a rate of two per set and led the team with 30 blocks. Sophomore Zoey Thompson managed the offense with 347 assists and 77 service aces. Junior Grace Pittenger aided the defense with 261 digs. Goodrich says getting touches and into the weightroom will be a focus to further progress.
“This offseason is just as important as every single practice was this season. We’re truly hoping for a larger presence in the weight room, using those offseason open gyms and our local AAU program to our advantage,” says Goodrich. “Getting as many touches as we can to continue to grow our game and what Bearcat volleyball is all about.”
North Butler is projected to return nine players next season.
Full Interview with Head Coach Sarah Goodrich:
