Bronco volleyball team kicks off season tonight at home against MI-B
Entering her eighth season, Erin Shikowsky has a challenge ahead in 2009 after losing three starters to graduation, including a setter and defensive specialist.
The season gets underway tonight at home against Mountain Iron-Buhl, and so far the work ethic has been well above average.
“We have a lot of undeveloped potential,” Shikowsky said. “If we come and work hard on a day-to-day basis, we can improve by leaps and bounds.”
Gone is former setter Danika Stelton and defensive specialist Taylor Raboin, and what’s left is a big competition for playing time. Freshman Reva Renollet, junior Mackenzie Raboin and senior co-captain Kara Kennedy could all be used at setter, while the same three, along with junior Courtney Olson and senior Kristy Walls are vying for time as a defensive specialist.
Up front, junior co-captain Sydney Gordon — an All-IRC honorable mention player last year — leads a group with some new faces. Senior Stella Fredrickson and freshman Sophie Fredrickson return, while junior twin sisters Katie and Brooke Graves will look to contribute after transferring from Indus last year. Senior Sara Bacon and juniors Ashley Bahr and Kassie Dotzler also dot the 2009 varsity roster.
“Our work ethic is really good,” Gordon said at practice Tuesday.
Gordon also noticed the team is really looking to improve, even though they don’t know what to expect when the lights go on tonight.
“They listen and they come to us if they need something,” Gordon said about the new varsity players. “They don’t have to come to us a lot, but we work well together. The seniors, too. They help out and step up, too.”
Shikowsky expects to compete well with Greenway and Littlefork, two of the toughest teams in the Arrowhead Conference, while Hibbing, Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert pose as this year’s toughest competition.
The Broncos’ season ended last year when the Golden Bears swept the Broncos in the Section 7AA tournament.
“I feel good about the season,” Shikowsky said. “Our work ethic is good and I keep telling them we have no where to go but up.”
2009 Broncos Volleyball Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 27 HOME vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Littlefork-Big Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Tower-Soudan 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 HOME vs. Cook 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 HOME vs. Cherry 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Greenway 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 HOME vs. Littlefork-Big Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Lake of the Woods 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Virginia 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Eveleth-Gilbert 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Virginia Tournament 9 a.m.
Oct. 8 HOME vs. Ely 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Esko Invitational TBD
Oct. 13, 20, 22 Iron Range Conference Tournament TBD
Oct. 23 HOME vs. Duluth Marshall 7 p.m.
