Dragon volleyball leans on experience

by Meg Keim

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The MSUM volleyball team is back and ready to roll. With the new NSIC conference season starting Tuesday, the women finished up the pre-season in Sioux Falls this weekend going 1 for 2 beating Northwest Missouri State and falling to Missouri Western.

The team is excited to finally get to play in their own gym after traveling to South Dakota and Colorado in recent weeks.

“We know these teams now,” said center Sam Sullivan, a senior at MSUM. “We know how they play and though we have a tough schedule to start the season with, it’s going to be fun.”

Getting back into it and coming out on top is important to right side hitter Abby Wolpern, a junior at MSUM.

“I’m excited for rematches with Minot and Sioux Falls for sure,” Wolpern explained.

Sullivan laughed and agreed saying, “we might still be a little bit bitter about those.”

As a senior, Sullivan is very excited for her last chance and final year as a Dragon. At the end of her 11-year career she is ready to “leave it all on the court and make the most of her last year.” She is excited to play with this group of girls and thinks that there is definitely something special about this group.

“Our ability to play as a team and play all of the positions really is cool,” Sullivan explained.

Wolpern agrees with Sullivan about the team being special.

“The thing about our team is that there isn’t just one stud. We are very versatile; it could be anyone, any night,” she explained.

The junior hitter knows first-hand that being able to excel at every position is important.

“We get to play all the way around which makes it easier to be a leader on the court when you’re in all of the rotations,” said Wolpern. She is only in her third year of the team but is a natural leader and is “excited about being older on the court with experience and being able to step up as a leader.”

Becoming leaders on the team is one of the goals the girls have for the season. While hoping to get redemption against a few teams in the NSIC, the Dragons hope to make the conference tournament and think a season of second chances is on the horizon for the Dragons this year.

“Outside of the win/lose record we hope to keep improving every day,” Sullivan said.

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