Setting the net high

Floor burn season is back. Yes, you read that right. Floor burn season, also known as volleyball.

You may be thinking, "Why is she calling the volleyball season 'floor burn season'?" Well, sometimes the volleyball players have to dive for the ball, which usually ends up with a nasty floor burn to the knee, elbow, or anywhere on the body for that matter. Anyways, back to the main point of this article.

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets' volleyball team officially kicked off their season with practice starting on Monday, August 15.

After losing six seniors – Mya Cudworth, Kennedy Demester, Alexa Holth, Macey Wobbema, Maria Becker and Delana Thomas – the team has some pretty big shoes to fill and some high expectations from the coaches.

Head Coach Sara Myhre stated "We lost six seniors who contributed a lot to the program last year with their energy and competitiveness, but we do have four girls that played on varsity last year returning this season: Kelsie Belquist, Madi Myhre, Kaiya O'Connor and Ava Peterson. It sure helps by having them back and that they all have had experience playing on the court together."

This upcoming team has played together since junior high. If you ever went to a c-squad or b-squad game last season, you could probably notice how well they play together from their teamwork and radiating energy.

Coach Myhre's expectations for the team are quite simple. To "work hard at practice everyday, respect your coaches and teammates, bring a contagious positive attitude and be coachable." And that's just what the Rockets' volleyball team needs this year. Hard work and positive attitudes could assist in many ways.

Last year, the Rockets ended their season 8-2 in the region, only taking losses to the North Star Bearcats and the Langdon area/Edmore/Munich Cardinals. The Rockets' finished the season 25-10 overall last year.

The Rockets also have a new face to the coaching side of things. Kayahna Hopfauf, a 2020 NR-S alum, has taken over the c-squad coach position from last year's coach, Carli Lies. Hopfauf previously played volleyball at NR-S since she was young. Once she graduated, she continued her education and athletics at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake.

"I'm excited to have Kayahna Hopfauf coaching with us this year. Kayahna will bring a lot to the program. Her knowledge and excitement for volleyball and having played at a college level will add so much to our team. I coached her in high school, so it's fun to have her back in the gym, but now in a different role."

Kyria Dockter, Madisen Myhre and Kelsie Belquist were chosen to be the 2022 captains. "The three of them are very deserving of the role by the way they have shown respect, good work ethic and their positive attitude."

The Rockets first non-region game of the season will be held in the New Rockford-Sheyenne school gymnasium against the Thompson Tommies (A,B,C) at 4:30 p.m. The varsity team will be sporting their brand new uniforms, as well.

Good luck to the Rockets' on their 2022 season!