Prep volleyball preview: Madison chasing state three-peat

REXBURG — It’s been a compelling travel for nan Madison High School volleyball squad nan past 3 seasons.

The Bobcats won a 5A authorities title 2 years agone pinch a roster loaded pinch knowledgeable and talented seniors. Last season, first-year caput coach Whitney Howard took complete a varsity squad pinch conscionable 1 elder and very small experience.

The extremity consequence was nan aforesaid arsenic nan young Madison lineup gelled by nan extremity of nan twelvemonth and rolled to a 2nd consecutive authorities title.

Fast-forward to 2024 and nan Bobcats look for a authorities three-peat pinch different wholly different storyline.

Former adjunct coach Keanu Pukahi takes complete arsenic caput coach and inherits a squad pinch 4 seniors and a big of underclassmen. The bully news for Pukahi is that on pinch a elder class, astir of nan underclassmen saw extended playing clip a twelvemonth agone and were instrumental successful nan team’s push for a authorities title.

Five returners were named to nan All-State squad past season.

“The bully point astir this programme is it has had a awesome foundation,” Pukahi said. “We’ve been capable to person this winning culture. … We want to build connected that winning standard.”

The title of authorities champion ever brings retired nan champion successful opponents looking to sound disconnected nan champs, Pukahi noted, but nan proverbial “Target connected our backs” mentality doesn’t really effect a lineup pinch nan Bobcats’ acquisition and information to adhd different bluish title trophy.

“All of our girls cognize that,” he said of nan unit and nan expectations. “Most of them person been ‘Bring it on. Bring that title on.'”

“I deliberation we’re each really passionate and we each person nan aforesaid goals,” elder Brookie Lamph said. “We’re conscionable trying to build a bully civilization here.”

Those players that contributed to past season’s tally person a twelvemonth of acquisition and maturity.

“Our activity ethic is very overmuch nan aforesaid and we’re trying to build thing wherever we get 1% amended each day,” said elder Nora Waddoups, a returning All-State first-teamer. “It’s bully to person group that person experience. … Our civilization is conscionable truthful bully because we’re ever competitory and everyone is moving difficult to beryllium nan champion they tin beryllium connected and disconnected nan court.”

Looking up to nan season, Canyon Ridge High School joins nan 6A District 5-6 conference. Traditional authorities powerfulness Skyview High School is besides backmost successful nan apical classification aft playing nan past 2 seasons successful 4A.

“(These players) cognize what it takes to get there,” Pukahi said of chasing different title. “They cognize what’s coming.”