Dodgers anxious to come together on the court
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Beth Wilder may have a small squad on paper, but the Fort Dodge volleyball coach likes her team's demeanor.
The Dodgers return six players from last year's starting rotation, which they'll lean heavily on to transition into 2026. They'll have to replace graduated mainstays like Teryn Rippentrop, LJ Maehl and Maeleena Meyer.
"We have a lot of experience coming back with girls who were starters," Wilder said. "They're scrappy. We have both some height and some tenacity. Two of our seniors were starters a year ago."
Grace Nichols (junior) and Sydney Carver (junior) will start on the outside for FDSH. The setter will be either junior Adyson Friesth or senior Ellie Doster.
Sophomore Holly Schaffer fills a couple of different spots up front.
Wilder sees a more non-traditional offense with the makeup of these Dodgers.
"We are chaotic and unorthodox when it comes to the outside and middle patterns," Wilder said. "We have different dynamics we can bring with sophomore Brogan Miller and junior Charlotte DeJong.
"We have two seniors that played and two more who can share some leadership. We have some juniors and sophomores that return a good chunk of experience.
“It’s exciting to be able to build from that."
Carver returns as the kills leader with 105. Doster (232) and Friesth (150) led in assists.
Returning digs leaders are Alstott (212), Doster (161) and Carver (113).
Wilder sees a lot of positives to build on with this squad that should carry over through the fall.
"We are versatile on offense and we have a handful of hitters that can connect," Wilder said. "We want to be a faster-paced team.
"Defenses won't be able to figure out what's going on because different players will run different patterns. We want to be able to catch opponents on the edge."
In the early going, Wilder is hoping the Dodgers are able to establish their leadership and communication.
"We need to build on and from who we are," Wilder said. "We need our voices to bring us together and dial us in.
“We have to make it our strength and communicate through our play – whether it’s what we did or didn’t do."
Fort Dodge opens at the Humboldt Invitational on Saturday.
2026 FORT DODGE VOLLEYBALL
Roster
Seniors -- Hope Alstott, Syndal Castaneda Rogers, Ellie Doster, Peyton Walstrom.
Juniors -- Sydney Carver, Grace Nichols, Adyson Friesth, Charlotte DeJong.
Sophomores, Brogan Miller, Holly Schaffer.
Schedule
Aug. 29 -- at Humboldt Invitational.
Sept. 3 -- Ottumwa; 8 -- at Des Moines Roosevelt; 10 -- Des Moines Hoover; 15 -- at Des Moines East; 19 -- Carroll Invitational; 22 -- Mason City; 24 -- at Marshalltown; 29 -- Des Moines North.
Oct. 6 -- at Des Moines Lincoln; 10 -- at Indianola tournament; 13 -- Webster City.