For Lisbon volleyball, the goal remains the same.

Become the first team in school history to qualify for the state tournament.

“We’ve been relatively successful,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said. “We’ve won our side of the Tri-Rivers the last seven years.

“This year we’ll look a little different, but our level of play will still be high.”

The Lions will look different without all-state hitter Ava Czarnecki, who graduated as the all-time kills leader in program history and is now playing Div. I volleyball with Southern Illinois.

She, and her classmates, will be missed. But Kamaus thinks Lisbon has a hitter ready to take her swings in junior Mykala Luzum-Selmon.

“She had a great sophomore season with 325 kills,” Kamaus said. “That is better than Ava did as a sophomore. …. I’m not saying she’s going to turn into what Ava was, but she’s had a pretty good start.

“And she does not shy away from pressure. When it is time to kick it up a notch, that notch is kicked.”

The good news is the Lions have the same setter, with senior Kaitlynn Hasselbusch returning.

“She’s got it,” Kamaus said of Hasselbusch. “I tell her you can’t have friends. You’ve got to go to the hot hand and can’t worry about anything but points. She knows when to take charge.”

Senior Sarah Dietsch also returns as a powerful middle hitter.

“Sarah has been impressive in the middle,” Kamaus said. “She put in a lot of time in the winter.”

Junior hitters Keira Bergmann and Kamryn Kahl are expected to get more swings this year.

Lisbon also added Presley Studt, who played at North Cedar two years ago.

Juniors Kaitlyn Silver and Alex Roos are also competing for swings at middle hitter.

Kamaus is still sorting it all out. The Lions have 41 players out for volleyball. And they’ve been kept out of the Lions’ Den because of construction.

The Lions did finish runner-up at a team camp at Central College a few weeks ago (among 32 teams). It wasn’t the camp with the real big heavy-hitters, but it was still something to hang their hat on going into the season.

“We played well,” Kamaus said. “We’ve got a lot of possibilities.”

Lisbon Volleyball

Coach: Lance Kamaus (16th season at Lisbon, 19th overall)

2023 record: 28-7, 6-0 Tri-Rivers East, first, lost in Class 2A regional semifinal

Returning starters (3) – Sarah Dietsch, sr., MH; Kaitlynn Hasselbusch, sr., S; Mykala Luzum-Selmon, jr., OH

Other letter-winners (2) – Keira Bergmann, jr., OH/RS; Kamryn Kahl, jr., OH/RS.