Holdrege, Neb. – The Dusters look to reload and build from last season’s 8-17 campaign. The bad news is they’ll do it without the team’s leading rebounder from last year, Bradie Medina. The good news is everyone else is back, including senior Avery Hurlbert who sustained a season-ending injury in the third game.
Hurlbert looks to lead Holdrege along with fellow seniors Kenna Fulmer and Morgan Pfeifer. Head coach Derek Runcie is looking for this year’s squad to build off of what they were able to accomplish last season, and it appears he has a roster that can do just that.
Runcie is able to enjoy a heavy dose of experience returning with a strong junior and sophomore class as well. Keeley Vaughn led the ’22/’23 Dusters in scoring as a sophomore, while Emily Stutzman had a team-high in assists as a freshman.
One big obstacle Holdrege will have to overcome is not a new one; size. Hurlbert is listed as the tallest player on the team at 5’9″. Coach Runcie, entering his fifth year in Holdrege, is no stranger to dealing with a lack of height and will tailor his gameplan around being quick and well-conditioned to make up for it.
The Dusters open up their season at Centura on Thursday, November 30, at 6 pm.
