Listen live Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on the Slocum Sports Network to high school volleyball from the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. The Loy Norrix Knights host the Portage Northern Huskies in a SMAC East vs West match. In their meeting last August, Portage Northern won in four sets. Both squads are hoping to get off to a strong start after struggling in recent seasons.
Portage Northern was 11-34 last season, but that was a significant improvement from the one victory tallied the year before. Six players from last season return for their senior season in the second year under head coach Heather Magelssen. Magelssen was a state champion setter for Portage Northern in the early 90s for her father, 10-time state champion coach Jack Magelssen.
Meanwhile, Loy Norrix has a new head coach in Victoria Najacht. She joined the Knights softball coaching staff for 2017 after playing softball from 2012-16 for Kalamazoo College. She played volleyball and softball at Hartford High School.
Loy Norrix had one All-SMAC second-team player and two honorable mentions last season; with all three graduating over the summer. Meanwhile, Portage Northern had two honorable mention selections that are returning for their senior campaigns in Emily Lewis and Hannah Biddlecome.
