Retooled Wolfpack set for playoff run

MILL CREEK — Plenty of familiar faces are back for the Jackson volleyball team.

Even with six returning seniors, the Timberwolves are still somewhat of a squad in transition with the addition of two transfers and a freshman standout, who just happens to be one of the tallest players on the roster at 6-foot-3. Four juniors also will see action.

Some of the returning players are stepping into new or expanded roles. Senior setter Audra Linsenmayer shared duties last season with Jessi Ramback, a second-team, all-leaguer.

This season she will be the team’s primary setter.

“Everyone is working really hard, especially with a bunch of people being switched from all over the place — JV, varsity and the new girls,” Linsenmayer said. “Everyone is kind of melding together and working really hard to get things accomplished. I admire that from everyone.”

Added Lillibridge, “Each day they’re getting more consistent. We have new personnel on the floor that have never played with us before.”

Linsenmayer is an efficient organizer of the Jackson offensive attack.

“She is a great quarterback on the court,” Lillibridge said. “She keeps everybody in their right rotations and she’s a good communicator. She’s just a steady player.”

Another individual expected to see an expanded role is senior Brittany Eskridge, who may be the most improved player on the team.

Eskridge is entering only her second season of high school volleyball but worked hard in the offseason with a club team.

The 6-3 standout should be a major force on offense this season.

“Last year she could put the ball down once in a while,” Lillibridge said. “This year she’s very consistent. She’s more aggressive on the floor. Her passing has improved. She never served last year. She might get a chance this year. Overall, you could tell she played offseason. … It’s very evident that she will be a go-to person this year.”

None of Eskridge’s teammates like going up against her during practices.

“She’s hitting the ball a lot harder than she did last year,” said senior Brittany Cain. “She’s really hard to block. Her hits are very hard to kick out.”

Cain (6-0) and second-team, all-league selection Megan Forbes (6-1) give Jackson a tall lineup.

The overall level of talent on this year’s best is the best Forbes has seen in her time at Jackson.

“This group of girls has the largest number of people with ability,” she said. “We have the most girls coming off a club season that we’ve ever had. So that will definitely play to our advantage.”

Senior Bridget Marasigan, a transfer from Cascade, takes over at libero, which enables Lillibridge to switch senior Jenna Mohrweis to the right side opposite position.

The other transfer, junior Laura Seekins (Thomas Jefferson) likely will come off the bench along with juniors Lindsey Eaton and Angelina Rich, who will swing from junior varsity.

Lillibridge wants to give the juniors some playing time.

“We’re so senior-based we need to give these juniors that are coming up some experience,” she said. “We’ve kept some juniors on JV, which we’ve never done … they are the team when the seniors leave.”

The surprise of the season is freshman Christy Cain, the younger sister of Brittany.

Lillibridge initially brought Christy for her blocking skills.

“But we’re finding out … that she can hit the ball if we give her a good set,” Lillibridge said. “She actually can put the ball down.”

Jackson’s height figures to be an advantage if the Timberwolves can pass the ball up front, which will be critical.

“It doesn’t matter if we have a big front row if we can’t get the ball up there,” Forbes said.

Lillibridge sees a better balance on offense as opposed to last season when the Wolfpack relied on first-team, all-leaguer Brittany Shaw.

“This year we seem to have some pretty strong backcourt players,” Lillibridge said. “We definitely have some offensive power. With the new personnel we’re just kind of working out the kinks.”

Last season, Jackson was tied for second place in the league at 7-2. The Timberwolves, at times, didn’t play as well as they should have, Lillibridge said.

“Our problem last year was that we’d get a little bit ahead and we’d let the other team creep back in,” Lillibridge said. “We’d win a lot of games, but we didn’t put it away. This year we just really need to work on dominating more because we should be dominating some matches.”

Jackson is looking for its third straight district tournament appearance.

“We can’t sit on our ability,” Forbes said. “We’re always going to have to be pushing ourselves. Hopefully, that will help us get to where we want to be at the end of the season.”