Wolves open home volleyball season
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
The Watford City varsity volleyball team will open its 2009 home season on Tuesday, Sept. 8 when the Wolves host the Tioga Pirates at 7 p.m. and Nancy Deutsch, Wolves head coach, is excited about this year’s team.
“We have 37 girls in grades 9 through 12 out for volleyball this year,” states Deutch. “And although we lost four exceptional players in Kara Johnsrud, Karlee Hanna, Karrin Collins and Emilee Wright due to graduation, we will be very competitive this season.”
While this year’s team will be young with only one returning senior, Deutsch says the team will be quicker which is going to be important to have a good season and doing well at the regional tournament.
“Olivia Sundeen is our lone senior this year and will be playing Libero for us,” states Deutsch. “But all of our returning juniors saw varsity playing time last season.”
Along with returning experienced players, Deutsch was also impressed with how the girls worked during the offseason to improve their volleyball skills.
“Some of our players worked all summer to get stronger and quicker at the game,” states Deutch. “About 86 percent of the varsity and junior varsity girls were at every open gym, attended camps and competed in summer tournaments.”
Returning for the Wolves will be juniors Dani Bates and Karson Pederson at middle hitters, Marti Quale as setter, Justine Homiston, Ashli Foli, Sierra Perdue, Jamie Johnson, Laura Lange and Jordon Porter as outside hitters. Sophomores Brianna Allex and Charlie Hystad will be middle hitters, Bessie Schmitz is a setter, and freshman McKyala Haugeberg is an outside hitter.