GALION — Jaime Valentine is starting her 10th season as head coach for the Galion volleyball team. She is looking for her two returning letter winners to anchor a team that will be full of youth in ‘17.

Those anchors care junior Kasidee Sinclair (two letters) and senior Marissa Gwinner (also two letters). Gwinner took home all-county, first-team Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and first-team District VI honors in 2016.

Galion is looking to bounce back after a 2016 campaign that saw the ladies going 9-15 overall and an even .500 at 6-6 in conference play. The Lady Tigers’ season ended with a loss to Huron in the sectional finals last fall.

Valentine will have three freshmen on the team this year. Kayla Hardy will be entering as the setter for the Tigers after the graduation of Morgan Gregory, who was second-team MOAC and third-team District VI last season. Also lost to graduation was Libero Callie Wildenthaler. Wildenthaler, a serve specialist who earned second-team MOAC honors in ‘16. Other freshmen coming up and expected to grow as players are middle hitter Samantha Comer and outside hitter Jaden Ivy.

“We are looking forward to an exciting and successful season,” Valentine said. “We will be young, but very athletic. “We should compete for the top spot in the MOAC, but other teams to watch will be Pleasant and Harding.”

The regular season begins for Galion on Tuesday, Aug. 22 vs. Bellevue on the newly refreshed gym floor at Galion High School. Conference play starts for the Lady Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 24 at Pleasant. The final opponent of the regular season is Mohawk on Oct. 22.

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