Five seniors – Anau Tua’one, Akilisi Pahulu, Dani Brey, Annie Lewis and Millie Oscarson – will be back for the fourth-ranked Woods Cross High volleyball team this year and between their leadership and the excitement of the fall season, head coach Josie Hilton is optimistic about the year. 

“Our seniors have come in so confident and it’s helped the energy in the gym,” said Hilton. “They have really improved, have increased their pace and are gonna do some amazing things for us this year.”

Hilton also noted sophomore standout Avery Poulton, a “tall, lanky powerful hitter who is really fun to watch,” a good group of returning juniors and some up-and-coming freshmen in Zamari Christensen, Alisi Tapaatoutai, Brylee Howard, Ella Hinton and Sarah Robison as ones to keep an eye on.

The focus of the offseason for Woods Cross has been building team chemistry to ensure that players trust and understand each other as the season gets going. “We want to have a good core so when we experience adversity, we are rebounding from that adversity,” Hilton said. “We want to get gritty together and break into the higher group at the end.”

Also on the 2023 Wildcats squad are juniors Gillian Anderson, Jaydee Hardy, Nesi Pututau, Maia Rudd and Tuanai Tia; sophomores Bailey Anderson, Audrey Ayala, Adia Cook, Kiersten Ence, Amelia Gale, McKenna Howes, Tupu Hunt, Lillian Larsen, Alexis Ormsby, Daynette Pututau, Madison Schaerrer and Mele Watanabe; and freshmen Colette Germane, Orillana Matagi, Mallory Nelson, Libby Phillips, McCall Preston, MaLeah Quinton, Daesha Roberts and Victoria Sullivan.

Hilton will be joined on the coaching staff by former WXHS assistant coach Lee Eschler who will bring “so much volleyball knowledge” in helping the varsity team and developing the setters in the program. 

The program is seeking donations to help with equipment and other needs. If interested, go to https://dsdgive.net/event/2071.