The Haines volleyball team opened its season with a three-set loss in an exhibition match against local alumni last weekend.
Despite the loss, it gave first-year coach Keri Ewing and five returning players a feel for a young team that hopes to improve upon its 2-10 record from a season ago.
“We had 11 girls there. And for six of them, it was their first time playing in a high school game,” Ewing said. “We were competitive throughout and that was good. But it also showed us what we need to work on and what we’re going to improve at. Overall, I was very happy with how they performed.”
The young team features only two returning seniors, Jordan Stigen and Bozhi Sebens.
Stigen, offensive captain and main setter, is “really pumped for the season” and believes that “the freshmen are really showing a lot of promise because they have a lot of good skills and should be a good team in the future.”
She added: “As a senior, I don’t want to think about the end of the season. I’m not really ready for high school volleyball to be over because it’s one of my favorite sports and I just hope we have a really good season.”
Sebens, who is the team’s libero (a sort of interchangeable backline defensive specialist) said: “We have a lot of new girls with a lot of potential. And, I think, if we really work hard we can be a really strong team, so that’s exciting. Also, we all get along well, so there isn’t much drama. So that’s good.”
This year’s season is a bit different than previous years because last year’s head coach, Cassie Miller, is not yet with the team full-time due to maternity leave. However, she continues to play a leading role in shaping the team’s progress and helping manage substitutions and game plans.
Stigen said: “I think it’s definitely a little hard, this year, getting used to everything. Especially with Coach Keri not really knowing as much about rotations. So, it’s definitely a learning process, but I think we’ve been handling it well so far.”
Ewing added: “I’m excited to coach with her (Miller). She provides a plan and I try to follow it as best I can. She has also worked with the girls on the team to work out a rotation and the five returners are really good and provide good leadership, so it’s been pretty smooth.”
Other team members include seniors Madeline Andriesen and Alyx Habra. The juniors are Brittney Bradford and Sarah Long. Sophomores are Marissa Haddock and Tailer Olsson. Freshmen players are Morgan Cloke, Kiana Donat, Marirose Evenden, Lindy Hill and Megan Whitermore.
The team’s matches are at Skagway on Oct. 7-8; at Juneau on Oct. 14-15; at Klawock on Oct. 20-22; at home vs. Skagway on Oct. 28-29; at Skagway on Nov. 11-12 and the Volleyball Region V Tourney at Craig on Dec. 2-3.
The ASAA 2A/Mix Six Volleyball State Championships will be held at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Dec. 8-10.