-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge volleyball returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Maeleena Meyer, Hope Alstott, Ellie Doster and Sydney Carver. Back: Adyson Friesth, Grace Nichols, LJ Maehl and Teryn Rippentrop.

The Fort Dodge volleyball team is ready to get to work.

With her first season under her belt as head coach, Beth Wilder must replace a strong senior class. She has experience returning, though.

“For me as a coach it has been more comfortable this year, knowing the girls more,” Wilder said. “Walking in last year, all the upperclassmen were softball players so I didn’t see them until later. Now I have a more comfortable mindset and the players have a better understanding of my style.

“I can be intense at times, so getting that player to coach relationship is important with opening the line of communication.”

The Dodgers will have to fill the shows of graduates Meah McCaleb, Lucy Porter, Grace Behrens, Cadence Touney and Braxtyn Dencklau, along with Katie Mason, Jacey Cooper, Grace Behrens and Lacey Larson.

“We have a lot to replace position and leadership wise,” Wilder said. “Those girls were in the program for a long time and knew the ins and outs and the little things that go into the program. They were present in the building, and they were leaders by example in the classroom and how they treated people on the court.

“This year’s senior group is similar and excited to get out on the court, continuing that aspect of building a strong program.”

Wilder is hoping the get-to-know process has helped grow the want to win after the squad recorded nine victories a year ago.

“The players’ mentality has been a strong aspect after a year of getting to know them,” Wider said. “We’ve added two new coaches (Kiley O’Leary and Sophia McLoughlin) to the staff, and their expectations have helped change for the better.”

Guiding that senior class will be LJ Maehl, Maeleena Meyer, Teryn Rippentrop, Jonaya Foy, Laynee Davis, Aniya Tesandori and Tatum Harris.

The Dodgers will also see the return of junior Hope Alstott, who sat out the entire season in 2024 with an injury.

Maehl had 92 kills a year ago, and led the Dodgers in blocks with 78. Meyer had 48 kills and 46 blocks with 62 digs.

“LJ and Maeleena are leading the crew as great senior leaders,” Wilder said. “We have some returning varsity players that didn’t see a lot of time, but will step in. Teryn and Hope will be key, as well as Ellie (Doster), who is our returning setter.”

Doster led the Dodgers with 185 assists last fall.

Other returning letterwinners are sophomores Sydney Carver, Grace Nichols and Adyson Friesth.

“I feel our strength is our scrappiness and our fight,” Wilder said. “We have a lot of kinks to work out.

“We have our eyes set on a winning record and putting things together to win the conference (Iowa Alliance North).”

Fort Dodge opens the season on Tuesday at Marshalltown. Their home opener is Aug. 9 against Mason City.