-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge volleyball players are, left to right, Front Row: Josie Shirbroun, Molly Hartman Back Row: Ebonee Altman, Kacee Gollob, Beth Murman, Brooke Erickson

There were some growing pains last season for the Fort Dodge volleyball squad, but head coach Tonia Burrell is hoping those rough patches will help lead to success on the court in 2017.

The Dodgers had only two letterwinners back last fall, but Fort Dodge enters this campaign with a much stronger, wiser veteran group.

“We’re feeling really good with so many players coming back,” Burrell said. “Hopefully the time they put in last year and this summer can equate to success and collectively, we can get better.

“It’s going to be exciting this year. There is a special dynamic to this team. When we started, it didn’t take a couple of weeks to get going — it was immediate.”

The first task will be to fill the void left by graduated leaders Hannah Amhof, Taylor Jordison and Justice Crooks.

“They all played really important roles on our team,” Burrell said. “They were active players and they were leaders.

“It will be a big transition, but we have players that are ready to resume their roles and some that will step into new ones.”

Seniors Beth Murman and Josie Shirbroun, along with junior Kacee Gollob, will be early go-to players. Murman, a multi-time state tennis champion, led the Doders in kills last season with 251, registered 36 aces, and had an 83 percent serve efficiency rate.

“Beth is an athlete and leader on the floor,” Burrell said. “She has stepped into that role. She leads in action already; we’re asking her to be a more vocal leader out there as well.

“When you have a four-year starter like Beth, she knows what to do and how to do it.”

Shirbroun led the Dodgers in assists with 512 from the libero spot, and recorded 143 digs.

“Josie is our setter and the quarterback of our team,” Burrell said. “She looks a lot more comfortable (this year), and she is a great vocal leader.”

The 6-foot-2 Gollob was a threat in the middle for FDSH, recording a team-high 78 blocks. She had 189 kills as well.

“We expect a lot of big things from Kacee,” Burrell said. “She has been playing hard this summer all over the country, and really worked hard on her game.”

Also returning to the mix are junior letterwinners Ebonee Altman, Brooke Erickson, Molly Hartman and senior Kaden Pederson.

“Ebonee and Brooke are still in the beginning stages of developing their craft,” Burrell said. “We need them to step up and play with confidence when they fill in on the right outside positions.

“Molly and Kaden led the back row last year. They are good at covering their position, and I’m expecting them to develop in the passing game.”

Burrell is also looking at seniors Raeya Love and Dereka Burton, along with sophomore Kathryn Cochrane.

“Raeya is one of those players that is going to help any way that she can. She can play back or front row,” Burrell said. “Kathryn will be our other setter this year. She obviously comes from a volleyball family (her mother is former all-state Dodger and head coach Toni Cochrane) and knows the game. She is eager and wants to learn.

“Dereka will be our other middle player after coming to us from Des Moines Roosevelt. She is a tall kid and a good jumper. I see a lot of blocks in her future.”

Once again, the Dodgers will play in the rugged CIML Iowa Conference.

“Our conference is going to be tough again,” Burrell said. “Our goal is to get to the point where we can play with every team.

“We’re going in with the mindset that we can match up with anybody.”

Burrell will be assisted by Edgar Baxton (junior varsity), Martha Mericle (sophomores) and Ashley Fredrick (freshmen).

The Dodgers open the season on Tuesday at Dallas Center-Grimes.

Roster

Seniors — Dereka Burton, Raeya Love, Beth Murman, Kaden Pederson, Josie Shirbroun.

Juniors — Ebonee Altman, Brooke Erickson, Kacee Gollob, Molly Hartman, Brooklyn Rowden.

Sophomores — Kathryn Cochrane, Loghen Schnetzer.

Schedule

(Start times at 7:30 p.m.

unless noted)

Aug. 22 — at Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational, 4:30 p.m.; 26 — at Humboldt Invitational, 10 a.m.; 31 — Des Moines East.

Sept. 5 — at Ames, 6:30 p.m.; 12 — at Marshalltown; 16 — Fort Dodge Invitational, 9 a.m.; 19 — Dowling; 23 — at Cedar Falls Invitational, 9 a.m.; 26 — at Mason City.

Oct. 3 — Urbandale; 5 — at Des Moines Roosevelt; 7 — at Mason City Invitational; 10 — at Johnston; 14 — at Woodward-Granger Invitational, 10 a.m.