BEARCATS FINISH BEST SEASON IN YEARS
Season ends with early loss in regions, but 10 wins better than previous 5 years combined
“I only see good things coming from this program.”
If ever there was a fitting final thought from Jennifer McConniel, the outgoing head coach of the Freeman Academy/Marion volleyball team, that was it. After all, McConniel watched her Bearcats put together, not only the finest season in her three-year run at the helm of the program, but one of the best since early in the nine-year history of the FAM cooperative.
“We didn’t make it as far as we hoped, but we did have a successful season this year, which is always the goal for any team,” said McConniel, who watched her Bearcats come up short in their quest for a run through the Region 4B Tournament with a 3-1 loss to Irene-Wakonda in the opening round last week Monday, Nov. 4.
FAM went into the game in Marion as the No. 7 seed with a 10-15 record while the Eagles went in as the No. 10 seed at 5-18. But Irene-Wakonda bounced back from a 0-1 deficit to take the next three sets and end the Bearcats’ season.
Set scores were in favor of the Eagles 20-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.
But McConniel — who is stepping aside in part because she has a middle school son who will be active in football next fall — said the loss to Irene-Wakonda should take nothing away from the season her team had and the way they played.
“The girls did very well with their attitudes, and we kept our heads high all year long,” she said. “Their personalities worked well with one another; this group really had a lot of chill and took criticism well.”
And one of the areas that has been a source of struggle the past few seasons — mental strength — wasn’t an issue this fall.
“Overall,” McConniel continued, “they really wanted it and worked hard in all areas.”
The Bearcats came into the season on the heels of a winless 2023 season and wasted no time in bettering that. Led by two seniors and a number of promising underclassmen, FAM earned a win over Freeman Public in its first match of the season in Alexandria and peppered in additional victories along the way; this year’s 10 total wins is more than the previous five seasons combined.
“Patience has to be learned,” said McConniel, referencing not only the slow but sure growth of the program, but also her own growth as a coach. “There always has to be a winner and there always has to be a loser and sometimes we have to climb out of a hole — but we can climb high.”
She’s expecting that growth will continue in the years to come.
The Bearcats will lose two to graduation, and both were strong contributors on this year’s team. Emma McConniel led the team with 422 digs and Hailey Stahl was second on the team with 140 kills.
“They’ve been leaders throughout the program starting as eighth graders on varsity, and I think their leadership has been very strong,” said the coach. “The girls look up to them; I see them watching them throughout practices and games.”
But FAM returns a lot, including junior Kallie Johnson who led the team with 208 kills, as well as a pair of eighth graders who turned some heads this year. Maliyah Nankivel and Lanae Waldner were both effective at the net with 84 and 127 kills, respectively, and sophomore Harli Ross led the way with 393 set assists. Waldner also led the team with 51 blocks while junior Anna Olson was second on the team in both kills and blocks with 140 and 37.
“We have girls who are working and ready to take over those leadership spots near year,” she says. “I know there’s a lot of excitement to keep this program going.”
As for this season and the finish that was, McConniel says it’s bittersweet.
“There’s a lot of happiness, but also some sadness that goes along with that, knowing it’s over.”
