‘We need to become that team again’

RITZVILLE — At this time a year ago, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague volleyball team was on the court preparing for a season where the Broncos eventually took second in the 2B classification; now, they’re using last year’s finish as motivation entering the 2024 season.

“I think we’re trying to recognize that we did have success and to not be satisfied, but to let that propel us to continue to work and become stronger so that we can have even more success,” Head Coach Cari Galbreath said.  

Helping their case are the returning Bronco starters; five of the six will be on the court again in 2024.  

“We need to work, we need to become that team again,” senior Addy Colbert said. “You come out, and there’s a target on your back.” 

Bringing back a significant amount of 2023’s starters and depth revives the on-court familiarity, senior Madisyn Cameron said. 

“It really helps our chemistry, just because we’ve been playing with each other for three, four years, but also having those freshmen come up – kind of getting that breath of fresh air of finding something new and what they can bring to the table,” she said. 

The lone starter not with the Broncos this fall is Megan Melcher, who received first-team all-league honors last fall and graduated in the spring. 

“She had a big role, so we’re just going to have to continue to be able to function without her, because she was very steady; very reliable, low (amount of) errors,” Cari Galbreath said. “Hopefully we can fill that spot and continue to be on our own rhythm.” 

Galbreath said sophomore Allesandra Mendez is one of the Bronco players she sees moving into the starting lineup this season, who is coming off a strong season with the junior varsity squad during her freshman year. 

“She’s raised her game, and I think her confidence is raised too,” she said. “Hopefully she’ll feel more comfortable playing more varsity games. Going from JV to varsity is a big change.” 

Along with Colbert, juniors Zoe Galbreath and Saige Galbreath make up the three returners who received all-league recognition in 2023. Zoe was named the Northeast 2B co-MVP. 

“It was something that surprised me at first last year,” Zoe Galbreath said. “I was really excited, and it made me realize what I can do as a player. Hopefully, I want to be able to carry that into this year.” 

Off-season work for the Broncos included open gyms, hosting a tournament with teams from Okanogan, Tonasket, Warden and Onalaska and traveling to camps and tournaments in Onalaska and Lewiston, Idaho. 

“It keeps them feeling connected in the game,” Cari Galbreath said. “I think that’s very valuable, rather than starting cold (at the start of practice). I think it helps them feel more comfortable and confident in their game.” 

LRS posted a 20-3 record last season, including a 13-0 start to the year before a loss to Davenport in mid-October. Receiving the No. 5 seed in the state tournament, the Broncos swept through their first three games with 3-0 wins over No. 12 Coupeville, No. 13 Liberty (Spangle) and No. 9 Rainier before falling 3-0 to No. 2 Manson in the state title match. 

“We had this saying last year, that ‘We’re going to climb that mountain.’ -- That’s what our motto was last year, and we made it to the top. Of course coming out second, it’s still amazing, but we’re still trying to be better and get that state championship,” Colbert said.  

The 2024 season begins with a home match against Reardan on Saturday, beginning at 1:30 p.m. 

“I think it’s going to take that hunger from each one of them – the girls on the court and the girls on the bench,” Cari Galbreath said. “Day in and day out, we’re pushing each other to continue to get better and perfect our game.” 

    Lind-Ritzville/Sprague junior Zoe Galbreath, right, tips the ball over the net during a state tournament game against Coupeville. Galbreath is the reigning Northeast 2B league co-MVP.
  

    Lind-Ritzville/Sprague junior Saige Galbreath bumps the ball during practice Aug. 30. Galbreath is one of three Broncos returning this season who received all-league honors last fall.