Mepham optimistic for playoffs

Following a county final appearance last year, the Mepham girls’ volleyball team has every reason to be optimistic as the season goes on, inching towards playoffs.

“Last year we made it to the county final, we lost to Long Beach,” coach Tom Wildeman said.

To spearhead the offense, the leader that Wildeman first name dropped was senior Sam Raikos, already with All-County accolades last year after notching 236 kills and 11 blocks; this season she already has over 80 kills.

The setter shoulder-to-shoulder with Raikos is senior Makayla Daube, who put up 272 assists on top of 131 kills last year and 27 blocks. She’s as dominant off the court too, as she’s Mepham’s valedictorian this year according to Wildeman. Senior Paige Cahlstadt is a returning setter with 55 assists and 12 aces.

There’s also senior Abby Palmer to keep in mind, the team’s libero, an all-county honorable mention after 250 digs and 40 aces last season.

“She’s phenomenal defensively, she’s like the anchor on the defensive,” Wildeman said.

Also on the back line is senior Grace Brassil, described as someone who is always on top of digs and aces, and is one of the main girls on serve-receive.

There’s the elementary off-the-court leader, the one that helps bring the girls together after tough losses, or celebrate extra hard after good wins, and that’s senior Sam Bremer.

“If anybody’s down or if anybody needs [a friend], because they’re not always talking to a male coach, she’s the one that goes and gets everybody up,” he acknowledged. “So if they need to talk to somebody, it’s usually Sam.”  

With all this mention of seniors, it’s natural to inquire about the underclassman presence, or lack thereof.

“I’d say most of our starters and our production comes from our seniors, [juniors] are filling roles like serving here and there, an occasional back row player, somebody needs a break or if we need a fill-in player it’s usually one or two of those juniors,” Wildeman said. “Sienna Linekin has filled in nicely, and KaIley Harrison as well, and they’re our future too, they’re be our starters next year.”

While there’s still an entire season to play, Wildeman is already thinking about the future of Mepham’s program.

He expects juniors like Linekin, Harrison and Kelly Caiaccia to be the next leaders on and off the court, to be the production in kills, blocks and digs, but also be the support when the shoes come off.

“They’re gaining more confidence and learning from the seniors,” he said. “So as they continue to get better, and hopefully one or two of them play club in the off-season, they’ll come to me [next season] more improved, taller, bigger, better than ever, I hope.”

With that, back to the present for a moment: “We gained some players and got better, and I not only expect to get back there but even further,” Wildeman said. “Maybe win the county championship, hopefully move on from there on the Long Island championship; my goal is to the states. Shoot for the stars.”