Experience returns to BP volleyball squad

"It's sort of a juggling act but we will make it work," says first-year Blooming Prairie High School head volleyball coach Jennifer Wayne.
High school girls volleyball has been moved to the spring by the Minnesota State High School League because of COVID-19.
Minnesota high school volleyball teams were able to begin practice on Monday this week and continue three weeks until Oct. 3. The spring season begins on March 15 and ends May 15.
Awesome Blossom volleyball is not new to Coach Wayne. She has been an assistant for the past eight years. She succeeds Ranell Kittelson.
Junior high practice started Monday of this week at the BP Elementary School. Varsity practice started Wednesday and will continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Experience returns to the Blossoms this year after losing four seniors in Julia Worke, Mya Lembke, Riauna Bishop and Heather Pirkl.
The experience returning includes seven seniors: Allison Krohnberg, Maren Forystek, Maggie Bruns, Haley Strunk, Michelyn Trihus, Anna Kittelson and Megan Oswald.
Some promising juniors who saw lots of playing time last year include Bobbie Bruns, Josie Hoffman, Alivia Schneider, Melanie Winzenberg, Lauren Schammel and Emily Miller. Coach Wayne said she has some tall 10th graders trying out for the team and she looks forward to seeing them in action.
Wayne said her team members participated in some scrimmages in August but she hasn't had an opportunity to talk to her players since that time. "I do think our girls are looking forward to playing some volleyball," she said.
The Blossoms finished at 3-4 in the Gopher Conference last year and at 13-13 overall. Four teams will be added to the conference next year.
Cory Hendrickson returns as Junior Varsity coach and Alli Schmidt will be the ninth grade coach.
Coaching will be different this year as the players must be split up in groups, no larger than 25.
"Our numbers and safety protocol change often," remarked Wayne.