Fresh start--Broncbuster volleyball begins Hiltz era
By Mike Pilosof
Garden City, KS-Back in March, Interim Athletic Director Colin Lamb had a hunch.
After the Broncbuster volleyball team failed to win a game during the 2018 season, Lamb went hunting for someone who could rebuild the program from the ground up; a coach with a strong passion for the game.
Enter Patrick Hiltz, a west-coast guy with a midwestern swag. A man who at 43, has more experience coaching than most of those entering their twilight. He's led a Division-I program; he's coached in the ultra-competitive Texas ranks, and he started a beach volleyball program at Louisiana-Monroe. And he did all of it before his 40th birthday.
Now comes a new challenge for Hiltz, one that he is more than up for. The Broncbusters enter the 2019 season having lost 32 straight matches. But that's not an indictment on the players the first-year coach inherits. Instead, it speaks to the lack of experience from a year ago.
"I think we're ready," Hiltz said. But at the end of the day, we aren't looking back at what happened last year. It's a new season."
Spend five minutes with this group, and there is an inherent difference from last year. It's a mixture of bubbly personalities and athletes, six of which are stronger for the struggles they endured just a season ago. In all, there are seven sophomores on the roster, an aspect that will definitely help Hiltz navigate the Jayhawk Conference.
Adisyn Swan, who saw action in 29 matches as a true freshman, is the hometown kid. She was a four-year standout at Garden City High School, helping the lead the Buffaloes to the state tournament three times. She's joined by Casper-College transfer Katarina Vojvodic and setter Katie McHugh, who was a first-team all-district player at Comeaux High School in Lafayette, LA. Outside hitter Jessica Forbes is back after playing in 30 matches last year. The Elkhart native is an honor roll student, who was an all-league selection at the prep level. Then there's Sheridan Rodriguez, who may be the best athlete at Garden City Community College. She plays volleyball and runs track, finishing second in the high jump at the NJCAA Outdoor Nationals back in the spring. Middle blocker Tameia Davis returns, as does outside hitter Meosha Erving.
"Anyone who judges us based on last year, will be horribly surprised," Hiltz said. "People are playing different positions, and it's a new system."
As for the newcomers, Nathalia Rodriguez is coming off a meniscus injury last season at Stanton County. Middle blocker Angel Sherman joins the Broncbusters after a stellar career at Haltom High School in Fort Worth, TX where she led her team in kills as a senior. And finally, Summer Nerkowski rounds out the roster, a four-year starter at the prep level, who played both outside hitter and libero in high school.
"I believe our system will make everyone a little better this season," Hiltz explained.
Garden City begins the 2019 campaign with a busy first few days. They're at McCook on Thursday followed by four matches at the Mid-Plains Subway invite in North Platte against Hesston, North Plate, Durham and McCook again. Their first home match comes against Butler on Sept. 4, before they hit the road for the Lonestar state for matchups with New Mexico, Ranger, Cisco and Laredo.
"Once we get the first one out of the way, the girls will build some confidence," Hiltz said. "That's the key."
Garden City's first major test comes on Oct. 7 when they welcome fourth-ranked Seward County to Conestoga Arena. The Saints are coming off back-to-back 30- win seasons, finishing fourth at the NJCAA National Tournament last year. And they've won 39 straight conference matches. Their last loss: Sept. 28, 2016 at Colby.
"Look, at the end of the day, it's just a matter of us getting out of our own way," Hiltz added. "There are still plenty of things that we need to work on."
They have two matches with Seward in 14 days, sprinkled in with October home matches vs. Hutchinson and Barton. They close the year Nov. 1 against the Cougars.