Sports

Ladyjacks look to return strong in 2012

By Tyler Ohmann

08/21/2012

With their third coach in as many years the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks volleyball team hope that three is their charm this season as they look to do some damage on the court in 2012.

With the departure of Ken Keysor from both the volleyball and men’s basketball teams, Corey Fehringer enters his first years as the Ladyjacks coach. It is his first experience as a volleyball coach.

“For me coaching is teaching. I enjoy being in the classroom. I enjoy being in the gym,” Fehringer said. “I think regardless of what you do, to be successful you have to be a lifelong learner in nature.”

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the girls to be in leadership positions,” Fehringer continued. “For me I’m going to learn a lot that I don’t know about volleyball, but I hope to bring different aspects, as far as being successful, having a winning mentality and being a cohesive unit.”

One of the girls thrust into a leadership role is sophomore middle hitter Jordyn Sondrol. Sondrol returns after a successful freshman campaign, where she was garnered all conference, all-region and all-region tournament team selections. Sondrol led the Ladyjacks with 292 kills and 137 blocks in 26 matches.

For Sondrol, team bonding is going to be as vital as talent in the Ladyjacks success this season.

“We need to bond as a team,” Sondrol said. “We just need to make sure that if they have any questions, that we answer them, whether it’s even school related, or sports.”

“It makes us more of a cohesive unit,” Sondrol said about bonding off the court. “That way you know, if you’re hitting, you know they’re going to be there to back you up.”

Another returning sophomore for DCB is Jackie Miller. A 2010 Mohall graduate, Miller saw plenty of time on the court last season as an outside hitter.

“I think we have a lot of good new girls coming in, and a lot of sophomores coming back, so as sophomores, we will hopefully guide them in the right direction, and we’ll hopefully be a good team,” Miller said.

Miller also thinks that bonding and team chemistry will be something that can propel the Ladyjacks further this season.

“We spend a lot of time together off the court,” Miller said. “Just getting to know each other that creates better chemistry.”

One positive that the Ladyjacks see in their game will be their attitude, something that improved as they went along last season.

“(We need) good attitudes, and be more efficient in what we do,” Sondrol said.

Fehringer agrees.

“We want to play our best volleyball at the end of the season, just like any other sport,” Fehringer said. “I think it’s going to be a continual learning experience, but I think the girls are in a great position to coach each other, and be positive with each other.”

“I think we are coming in with great attitudes, great spirits, and that’s going to lead to great effort, regardless of what we’re doing,” Fehringer added.
Sophomores will play a big part in that process.
“With the short amount of time we’ve spent together, our sophomores are great individuals, they are high character, so I don’t have concerns on what we’re doing on a daily basis,” Ferhringer said. “I believe they’ll be coachable, but they will also be able to voice their opinion.”

Local recruits will also comprise part of the team this season. Freshman setter Ashleigh Aufforth, from Bottineau, as well as Leah Parizek from nearby Surrey will hope to see time on the court this season as well. Fehringer said that getting the freshman and the sophomores working together cohesively will be a goal early on.

“We’ll mesh together, so that whatever we do, whether it’s in a practice or a game, that we’re putting ourselves in the best position to play the best volleyball we can play,” Fehringer said.

It is something that Miller said the Ladyjacks lacked early last year, and hopes they can find it sooner in 2012.

“It took us a long time last year to get going, so hopefully we can get that together sooner in the season, and come together as a team quicker,” Miller said.

One other familiar face that returns is assistant coach Lindsey Manning. Manning provides a pivotal ‘x’s and o’s’ role on the coaching staff.

“Coach Manning is going to be crucial, and she’s already put her hand on the team,” Fehringer said. “Her voice is going to be valued as much as anybody’s, and I’ve spoke to several people that spoke very highly of her.”

“She’s definitely going to be vital in everything that we do, and we’re all in a position to have a great year, and learn while we’re at it,” Fehringer added.

With the new head coach, Miller thinks the landscape for learning will remain.

“It doesn’t change a whole lot, because both coaches were new to the game, so we’re kind of learning together too,” Miller said.

The Ladyjacks finished with a 5-21 overall record last season, though they finished third in the Region XIII tournament, scoring wins over Gogebic Community College at Dakota County Technical College as DCB hosted the tourney.
The Ladyjacks open their season on Aug. 29 in Bismarck as they take on the Bismarck State College Mystics.