Vikings open 2009 season tonight in Cherry with only two returning starters
Teams usually fret over losing four starters to graduation, but Littlefork-Big Falls’ transition has gone smoother then expected.
“We’re improving every day,” said head coach Kim Wimmer, who’s entering her fifth season. “There seems to be excitement for the game of volleyball at practice and that will only help us improve as the season gets underway.”
The 2009 Vikings lost Whitney Junker, Kelly Millerbernd and Kristi Bloom — all Northern Lakes All-Conference players — to graduation, while Baylea Wendt also graduated and will play at Rainy River Community College this season. However, this year’s group is already ahead of last year’s pace after placing better than the 2008 team in the opening jamboree of the season.
“The program has a history of players stepping up and filling some big shoes,” Wimmer said. “I expect the same from this group of athletes.”
The Vikings, coming off a 16-10 season, will have six seniors leading the charge, as well, including returning starters Haylee Gates and Hannah Larson. Gates earned All-Conference honorable mention honors last year. The six seniors will also rotate as captains for each match (see Page 11).
“I think we’re doing a really good job so far,” Gates said Monday at practice. “We’ll have to just see at the first game.”
L-BF opens the season tonight on the road at Cherry before returning home Thursday in a rivalry match against International Falls. After winning the conference in Wimmer’s first two seasons, the Vikings have come up short in back-to-back years, finishing second.
“We just want to win tomorrow,” Gates said, not wanting to look to far ahead.
“And be ready to win every game,” fellow senior Liz Bobst added.
So who will fill these open positions?
Paige DeLack, who saw some varsity time last season, takes over the setting duties from Bloom, while Kari Imhof will try and be a force in the middle. Hannah Hell returns after taking a season off and Bobst will step in as one of the team’s better passers. Wimmer also has a good core of young talent entering the varsity ranks in Brooke Millerbernd (8th grade), Chelsey Ziemba (9th grade) and Courtney Pfeifer (9th grade).
“We’re expecting big things from Brooke, Chelsey and Courtney,” Gates said.
If things do come together for the Vikings, a run at the state tournament is not out of the question. Deer River, who the Vikings lost to last year in the section tournament, returns with a strong team, along with Carlton, Babbitt-Embarrass and Bigfork, according to Wimmer. Nashwauk-Keewatin will also pose as a force in the conference. But the goal is simple for Wimmer year in and year out.
“Work hard to keep improving and be in the mix to earn the title of 7A champion,” she said.
2009 Vikings Volleyball Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 1 at Cherry 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 HOME vs. International Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Bigfork 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 HOME vs. Northland 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 HOME vs. Chisholm 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at International Falls 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Babbitt-Embarrass 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Cook 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Lake of the Woods 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Pierz Tournament 9 a.m.
Oct. 6 HOME vs. Hill City 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Nashwauk-Keewatin 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Bigfork Tournament 9 a.m.
Oct. 12 HOME vs. Tower-Soudan 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Deer River 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 HOME vs. Orr 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 at Mountain Iron-Buhl 7 p.m.
