The Hillsboro volleyball team suffered a rare losing season last year, finishing 16–18 overall and 9–5 in the Scenic Bluffs Conference.
The Tigers season ended with a 3–2 loss to SBC champion Royall in the WIAA Division 4 regional finals.
It was the first losing season in Mark Sullivan’s (107–42–1) four years as head coach, but Sullivan’s Tigers are poised to have a bounce back season this fall.
Hillsboro returns its entire rotation from a year ago and hopes to regain the conference title it won four straight years from 2010–2013.
The Tigers will be led by the all-conference quartet of Mackenzie Sullivan, Tasha Mitchell, Brittany Borchardt and April Thornsen, as well as talented sophomores Courtney Fanta and Sydney Johnson, who both played extensively on varsity as freshmen.
The younger Sullivan an all-around talent that split time between setter and outside hitter as a junior. She is a four-year varsity player and a two-time first-team All-SBC selection.
Mitchell is the team’s leading returner in kills, blocks and service percentage. She is a three-year starter at middle hitter and was named first-team All-SBC as a junior.
Borchardt, also a first-team all-conference choice a year ago, will start at libero for a third straight season. She led the team with 682 digs last year.
Mitchell and Borchardt were honorable mention All-SBC selections as sophomores in 2013.
Thornsen earned honorable mention All-SBC accolades last year as a junior.
The Tigers will open the season with a scrimmage at Reedsburg on Saturday before opening the regular season Tuesday at the two-day UW–Oshkosh Tournament.
Hillsboro will begin conference play Sept. 3 at Royall.
Cross country will run at Ken Trott Invite Aug. 25
The Hillsboro cross country team will open the season Aug. 25 at the Westby Ken Trott Invitational.
The Tigers will next compete at the Cashton Invitational on Aug. 28.
The Hillsboro girls’ and boys’ teams both finished second a year in ago in the Scenic Bluffs Conference.
The Lady Tigers must replace four seniors from last year’s SBC runner-up, but sophomores Annie Haas and Sam Hora are poised to lead Hillsboro’s new-look pack.
Haas won the girls’ individual conference title and went on to finish 32nd at state. Hora finished 15th at the conference meet last year.
The Hillsboro boys’ team will be led by senior Skyler Fisher and junior Zach O’Hair. Both finished among the top-10 at last year’s conference meet to earn All-SBC honors.
