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Jeff Gloyd was pretty blunt when taking about the prospects for the 2008 Onalaska High School volleyball team at the end of last fall's season, saying that he saw a lot of similarities to Onalaska's 2004 team, which lost in game five in a Division 2 sectional final. But Gloyd won't have the opportunity to coach that team this fall, as Megan Swiggum will replace Gloyd at the helm of the program.

Gloyd preceded his three years as the varsity coach as the assistant to Rick Klein on the 2004 sectional finalist. Gloyd also was the program's freshman coach in 2003. Gloyd will continue in his full-time job with the county's Hazardous Materials Program.

“I would have loved to coach them for one more year,” Gloyd said. “But Megan will do well. They have talent and experience.”

Swiggum will begin her second year as the gym teacher at Irving Pertzsch Elementary this fall. She prcedes this year as a 2007 varsity assistant, and as the varsity reserve coach in both 2005 and 2006.

Swiggum, the former Megan Chestelson, is a 2003 North Crawford graduate. She played one year of volleyball at UW-La Crosse.

“We're going to try a lot of different serve receive, and (senior) Lauren (Mlsna) will try some jump serving,” Swiggum said of changes she may make from a year ago. “We're going to try and run more quicker offense, play at a faster pace and use quicker sets.”

Mlsna is one of three 3-year varsity players who should return this fall, along with Jenny Kessler and Rachel Greene. Also eligible to return to this year's team are Anne Christianson, Mai Vang, Sidney Sierp, Gretchen Otto and McKenzie Guth.

“We definitely have a good group coming back,” Swiggum, who is married to Onalaska football, basketball, baseball and Legion lower-level coach Larry Swiggum, said. “We should be one of the top contenders in the conference.

“I've had the pleasure of working with a lot of the same girls we'll have this year. I'm excited about that.”