A talented freshman class, led by former Bronco Danika Stelton, is allowing the Voyageurs to quickly forget last season’s 3-19 record
One only has to step into the gym during practice to notice a difference between the 2008 and 2009 Rainy River Community College volleyball teams.
“Wayyyyy better,” said sophomore captain Carley Lake, who was comparing this year’s squad to last year’s 3-19 squad.
“Way more team chemistry,” she added. “We all get along very good in volleyball and outside of volleyball. And nobody plays the blame game this year.”
Fellow captain Samantha Alberts, the only other sophomore on the team, echoed the sentiment.
“Last year the chemistry really wasn’t there,” she said. “And this year there’s a lot more. Recruitment went really well this year, so there’s a lot more talent.”
The 2009 Voyageurs added eight freshman, including local products Danika Stelton from International Falls and Baylea Wendt from Littlefork-Big Falls. Stelton, who was appointed captain, steps into the setter role and instantly gives head coach Mel Millerbernd some stability the Voyageurs have been lacking for three seasons.
“It’s nice to have a quarterback in Danika who’s done it for years,” Millerbernd said before comparing this year’s team to the last three teams, which have all struggled. “That’s probably the difference right there.”
Another difference maker is Alberts, who led the team in kills and digs last year. But a torn MCL during softball season didn’t heal properly, and she’s awaiting results from an MRI to see how effective she can be this season — if at all. She’s hoping to return by the first home game on Sept. 9.
“I’ll just have to take extra precautions,” she said.
Lake is expected to help bolster the defense in the middle, while Wendt and fellow freshman Priscilla Pacheco look to share duties as defensive specialist.
“Our big thing is we’ll have to play defense,” Millerbernd said. “Offensively, we’ll be fine.”
The other first-year players are Kyla Thorne, Cally Tinkess, Brittany Finnson, Stevie-Lee Langford and Coral Spinelli.
“Everyone has their weaknesses, everyone has their strengths, and we’ll put that together as a team,” Alberts said.
The Voyageurs open their season tonight on the road against first-year team Fond du Lac. The first home match is Sept. 9 against Northland.
“This year you feel like you’re going to win the game and not just hoping,” Lake said.
2009 RRCC Volleyball Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 2 at Fond du Lac 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 HOME vs. Northland 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11-12 at Itasca Tournament TBD
Sept. 16 HOME vs. Hibbing 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 HOME vs. Vermilion 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 HOME vs. Mesabi Range 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Central Lakes 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Northland 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 HOME vs. Fond du Lac 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 HOME vs. Itasca 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Hibbing 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Mesabi Range 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Vermilion Noon
Oct. 10 vs. Gogebic in Ely 2 p.m.
Oct. 13 HOME vs. Central Lakes 6:30 p.m.
