With nearly all of Goessel High School’s varsity volleyball players returning, Delaney Duerksen is excited about what the Bluebirds can accomplish this season.
“I am most excited to play with my teammates again and see what we can do this year, given that almost all of our varsity players are back this season,” Duerksen said.
Goessel’s team motto this season is “Becoming,” a message Duerksen said fits the team’s goals as it looks to build on last season and continue improving together.
“I’m also excited to see all the ways we can become better players and improve as a team,” Duerksen said.
Duerksen enters the season after a standout 2025 campaign in which she recorded 412 kills, averaging 4.48 kills per set. She hit .252 and posted a .378 kill percentage while also contributing 346 digs, 59 aces and a .942 serve percentage.
Her performance earned her second-team all-state honors last season. This year, Duerksen has her sights set on moving up to the first team.
“Goals I have for myself would be to become a more consistent and accurate server, and make first-team all-state,” Duerksen said.
Duerksen spent much of the summer preparing for the upcoming season. She participated in weight training, summer league nights in Halstead and a team camp at Kansas State.
She also took on a new challenge by playing beach volleyball with teammate Bella O’Neill. The pair competed in several tournaments, including one that qualified them for nationals in Virginia Beach, where they played in July.
Although beach and indoor volleyball are different, Duerksen said the experience has helped her develop skills that can translate to the indoor court.
“Overall, I think beach volleyball can help your indoor game, even though they are quite different,” Duerksen said. “It can especially help your court awareness and vision, seeing what’s open, using different shots than what you’re used to, and it definitely helps your communication.”
One of Duerksen’s biggest goals entering the season is improving her ability to read opposing teams and adjust during matches. Her beach volleyball experience has given her another opportunity to work on that part of her game.
“My experience with doing beach volleyball for the first time this summer will definitely help — knowing where the defense is on the other side of the court and placing the ball where they’re not, and also reading hitters and positioning myself in spots where I can get the ball up,” Duerksen said.
Duerksen hopes those improvements will help both her individually and the Bluebirds as they pursue bigger goals this season.
After reaching the state tournament last season, Goessel wants to make another trip to state and take the next step once it gets there.
“Goals for the team would be to make it back to state again this year, and this time make it to day two, and be Wheat State League champions,” Duerksen said.
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