Winners of three straight Section 7A titles, the Vikings’ volleyball team is hard at it in preparation for another exciting season. Pictured here, the younger players—who will be counted on to help the varsity – take a moment to discuss their play at practice and to bond. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
It will be strange to see a Cook County High School volleyball team play without Pam Taylor leading the team or a Sutton girl on the court.
After coaching her team to three state tournament appearances, Pam Taylor announced her retirement last year concluding a great 35 years of coaching.
At the request of countless fans, the I.S.D. 166 school board named the gymnasium after Pam, so even though she is gone, it’s still her gym.
As for the Suttons, first there was Abby, then Lyndon, and finally Meredith, an allstate player who is now a freshman playing volleyball on scholarship for UMD.
So what does this new Vikings team look like?
First, the new head coach is Marlene Wester, Pam Taylor’s assistant last year.
Ali Iverson, Sharon Dorr, and Jen Sutton, mother of the Sutton girls, will assist Wester, so we will see a Sutton on—or next to—the court of play just like the last half-dozen years.
Twenty-two players reported for fall practice, seven of them seniors, said Wester.
Returning starters are seniors Sophie Eliasen, Alyssa Fenstad Lashinski, Reilly Wahlers and Sela Backstrom.
Her seven seniors are all good leaders, added Wester, “They are always ready to help the younger players.”
As of now, “Every position is open,” said the coach. “I have a lot of skilled players who can play anywhere. This gives me a lot of options. There is a lot of talent on this team. If someone isn’t doing their job, we have players that can come in and step up and fill that position.”
When asked if any changes were going to be made from Taylor’s style of play, Wester smiled and said, “Pretty much everything. I’m looking at a three-set rotation, and we might end up playing a 6-2. Because we can replace almost anybody and not lose much, we can try a lot of different things. And, I will probably play more girls, using them where their skill fills a need.”
Just below the varsity level are a fledgling group of players who practiced throughout the year and attended several tournaments on their North Shore Yeti club team.
“We have a group of younger girls who love to play volleyball. They play year-round. I have to say that our future looks bright,” Wester said.
Esko will once again be a top rival, as will Carlton. Then too, Silver Bay and Two Harbors, the other schools on the shore, are always chief opponents, said Wester.
The Vikings will play 19 regular season games, seven of which will be played at home.
The home varsity games all start at 6:30 p.m. Here is a list of home games and dates: Thursday, August 30 Esko comes to town. The Vikings play South Ridge on Thursday, September 13; Wrenshall on Tuesday, Sept. 18; Proctor on Monday, Sept. 24; Barnum on Thursday, Sept. 27; McGregor on Thursday, October 4 and Lake View Christian on Tuesday, October 16.
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