Road to title defense begins for Cissna Park volleyball

CISSNA PARK, Ill. (WCIA) -- Last year, Cissna Park raised the bar with a 25-game win streak that culminated in a state title, and even though key pieces of that team graduated, the standard remains the same.

The Timberwolves are tasked with replacing standouts Addison Lucht and Josie Neukomm, but they have multi-year starters ready to fill the role of senior leader on and off the court.

"We did lose a lot of seniors, but I think we've done a good job coming all together as a group like gluing and just being there for each other," junior hitter Kendyl Neukomm said, the younger sister of Josie.

Cissna Park is also on the precipice of a milestone win, sitting at 991 program victories this preseason.

"When that number goes from 999 to 1,000, it's going to be it's going to be pretty special," head coach Josh Landon said.

While the pressure looms to repeat as state champions, the Timberwolves are working to turn it into fuel.

"We're going to have to work a whole lot harder for it," junior setter Ella Schuter said. "The resilience and staying focused and knowing that we are going to have pressure and people are going to be out for us. Just seeing how we respond to that."

The road to the 1,000-win mark and another go at the postseason begins on Wednesday, September 2 as the Timberwolves host Tri-Valley.

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