Team-building ushers in Clements era at Eastland

LANARK – Sometimes a big part of preseason practices involve making banners and going on scavenger hunts.

The defending Class 1A state volleyball champion Eastland Cougars are working on team-building. It was something the team did last year as well, which they credit with building trust and communication on the court, and it’s a tradition this year’s team is carrying on.

“We did a scavenger hunt one day across town,” senior setter Ashley Beyers said. “We had certain things on a list, and we had to get so many points. We just come together and hang out.”

With seven players having graduated from last year’s Class 1A state title team, the returning players are trying to forge camaraderie with the younger players who are about to step on the varsity court for the first time.

“In the beginning it was a little different, getting used to playing with all the underclassmen with losing all the seniors last year,” senior right-side hitter Nia Blackmore said. “I think we’re getting better practicing and working with each other.”

The Cougars lost their second-, third- and fourth-leading attackers in kills (Sydney Guentner, Karalicia Kennedy and Cassidy Logemann), as well as the top two in digs (Bubby Doubler and Heather Larak), the top two in aces (Larak and Samantha Johnson), and the top two in blocks (Guentner and Kennedy).

Senior outside hitter Makenzie Fink is back for her senior year after leading the area in kills last season with 469; she also had 189 digs and 32 stuff blocks. Beyers also returns after contributing an area-high 1,203 assists, along with 75 kills, 45 aces and 26 stuff blocks.

The Cougars also find themselves getting used to a new coach. Mallory Clements is entering her first season as the Eastland coach following the retirement of Kristy Pierce, who was the only head coach the Eastland program had ever known and amassed 941 career wins, which ranks fourth on the IHSA’s all-time list.

Eastland players already got a chance to play for Clements during summer league games.

“Summer was a very good snapshot of who I am as a coach,” Clements said. “There are moments where they’re still learning me a little bit, but there’s moments where they’re used to how I run things.”

“Her coaching style is a little different than the old one, so you have to get used to that,” Fink said. “Nothing too major.”

Clements said she is ready to shake up positions to see different looks. Fink said there is something of a restart to the Cougars program with so many of last year’s players gone and so many jobs up for grabs.

“My junior class is really filling in the gaps, and even some of the sophomores are coming up and doing a good job so far,” Clements said. “Overall, we have plenty of people stepping up, and it’s encouraging.”

Clements has seen junior Katie Krogman getting good touches on the ball, and sophomore Gabby Snyder showing a lot of ability over the summer.

“They’re all learning about each other, and learning how they work well on the court,” Clements said.

They will be continuing to learn and to build that teamwork, which Clements said is the biggest job for Eastland between now and Aug. 23, when the Cougars open the season against Oregon.

“Summer was a little glimpse of that,” Clements said. “But really getting down and dirty and learning the ins and outs of who you’re standing next to, that’s the biggest goal until we play Oregon.”

Once the season starts, the Cougars know that even with a new coach and a slew of new players, other teams will be setting their sights on a chance to take down the state champ.

“That’s a lot of fun, I think, that everyone wants to beat us,” Fink said. “It makes us just want to play harder.”