The Harrisburg High School volleyball team is gearing up for another exciting season, and our players have been hard at work during the offseason. With a mix of returning talent and new faces stepping up, we’re looking forward to what the 2025 season has in store. Here’s a closer look at our offseason focus, key events, and expectations for the upcoming year.
Offseason Focus
Our primary focus this offseason has been individual development, especially for our younger players. Many of our athletes are playing club volleyball and are on different teams, so we’ve been working on providing tailored feedback to each player based on their strengths and areas for improvement. After a young season last year, we’re putting special emphasis on improving our blocking game, which will be a critical area for us to build on going into this season.
Special Offseason Events
This offseason has been busy with a few key events that help our players develop their skills and team bonding. We host a large tournament of our own every June, where we bring in over 40 teams, allowing our players to gain competitive experience. Our HHS Team Camp will take place on June 11th and 12th in Harrisburg, SD. In addition, we’ll be attending a team camp at Nebraska from July 20th-22nd. These events will provide our athletes with invaluable training opportunities and help them prepare for the upcoming season.
Notable Additions & Departures
We are fortunate to have all of our coaching staff returning for the upcoming season, which ensures continuity in our team’s culture and expectations. We did graduate two incredibly talented players, a middle hitter and a libero, who will be greatly missed. However, our athletes are excited to step up and take on new roles to fill these gaps, and I’m confident that they will rise to the challenge.
Players to Watch
This season, we have several standout players who are poised for big performances. Gabi Zachariasen, our 2x State Gatorade Player of the Year, will be a dominant force on the court. Josalyn Samuels, ranked #1 in the nation for her freshman class, is being recruited by many Big Ten schools and is sure to make a major impact. Julia Masselink, an 8th grader, has been impressing at national training sessions and is expected to be a key contributor this season. Bergen Stiff, who plays middle for us, will also be a threat as a 3-spot attacker, thanks to her incredible vertical. Lindsay Langner, who has been a starting defensive specialist (DS) for the past three years, has worked tirelessly to become a top-tier serve receiver and is now preparing to take on the libero role. Her hard work has earned her a spot at a Division 1 school next season.
Weight Lifting and Fitness
While we offer weight training at the school, many of our athletes also take advantage of training programs offered through their club teams, and some participate in a local program called Boom to further enhance their strength and conditioning. These offseason training methods are helping our athletes become stronger, faster, and more explosive on the court.
Nutrition
We don’t have a formal nutrition program, but we always encourage our players to fuel their bodies properly to ensure they’re getting the most out of their hard work. Proper nutrition is essential for performance, and we emphasize the importance of eating the right foods to support energy, recovery, and overall health.
Coaching Perspective
While our coaches have been limited in their ability to work directly with the high school athletes due to state regulations, we’ve been running camps for our future Tigers and working with our incoming freshmen to get them acclimated to high school-level play. We’re also hosting open gyms, where we allow the players to practice, but can’t provide direct coaching. The offseason has allowed us to focus on incoming talent and ensure that the future of the program is in good hands. There are no major changes in strategy for this season, as we’re continuing to build on the systems that have worked well for us.
Fan Engagement & Community Impact
We are incredibly fortunate to have amazing fans and supportive parents who help us in numerous ways. This offseason, we’ve hosted a volleyball camp for over 200 elementary school kids, and we’ll also be running a 14U club tournament this Sunday, where players, coaches, and parents will work together to make it a success. Our parents are also helping with fundraising efforts to support our trip to the Durango Tournament next season. Their continued involvement will be essential for our team’s success. We are also running a sand volleyball league during the summer, where parents are helping with supervision and organization.
Biggest Challenges Ahead
While we are excited about the upcoming season, we know that we’ll face challenges. Losing two key players in the middle hitter and libero positions will require some adjustments, but I’m confident that our athletes are ready to take on new roles. We have a team full of competitors who always put the team first, and I don’t anticipate us missing a beat. We’ll need to stay focused and work hard to ensure that we continue to compete at a high level and make an impact this season.
As we look forward to the 2025 season, the Harrisburg High School volleyball team is ready to rise to the challenge. With a talented roster, dedicated coaching staff, and a strong sense of community support, we are excited to take on the competition and make this season one to remember!
 for the past three years, has worked tirelessly to become a top-tier serve receiver and is now preparing to take on the libero role. Her hard work has earned her a spot at a Division 1 school next season.
Weight Lifting and Fitness
While we offer weight training at the school, many of our athletes also take advantage of training programs offered through their club teams, and some participate in a local program called Boom to further enhance their strength and conditioning. These offseason training methods are helping our athletes become stronger, faster, and more explosive on the court.
Nutrition
We don’t have a formal nutrition program, but we always encourage our players to fuel their bodies properly to ensure they’re getting the most out of their hard work. Proper nutrition is essential for performance, and we emphasize the importance of eating the right foods to support energy, recovery, and overall health.
Coaching Perspective
While our coaches have been limited in their ability to work directly with the high school athletes due to state regulations, we’ve been running camps for our future Tigers and working with our incoming freshmen to get them acclimated to high school-level play. We’re also hosting open gyms, where we allow the players to practice, but can’t provide direct coaching. The offseason has allowed us to focus on incoming talent and ensure that the future of the program is in good hands. There are no major changes in strategy for this season, as we’re continuing to build on the systems that have worked well for us.
Fan Engagement & Community Impact
We are incredibly fortunate to have amazing fans and supportive parents who help us in numerous ways. This offseason, we’ve hosted a volleyball camp for over 200 elementary school kids, and we’ll also be running a 14U club tournament this Sunday, where players, coaches, and parents will work together to make it a success. Our parents are also helping with fundraising efforts to support our trip to the Durango Tournament next season. Their continued involvement will be essential for our team’s success. We are also running a sand volleyball league during the summer, where parents are helping with supervision and organization.
Biggest Challenges Ahead
While we are excited about the upcoming season, we know that we’ll face challenges. Losing two key players in the middle hitter and libero positions will require some adjustments, but I’m confident that our athletes are ready to take on new roles. We have a team full of competitors who always put the team first, and I don’t anticipate us missing a beat. We’ll need to stay focused and work hard to ensure that we continue to compete at a high level and make an impact this season.
As we look forward to the 2025 season, the Harrisburg High School volleyball team is ready to rise to the challenge. With a talented roster, dedicated coaching staff, and a strong sense of community support, we are excited to take on the competition and make this season one to remember!)
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