John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
FORT MADISON - Fort Madison volleyball coach Kelly Knustrom and assistant Kirsten Shaffer have been busy in preseason practice.
A program roster of 42 players can do that.
Knustrom, in her second season with the Bloodhounds, feels her team is ahead of last season, when building a foundation and culture required some teaching.
“We have a lot to work on, but they’re learning quickly and responding to things,” Knustrom said. “As far as skill stuff from last year, we’re so much further along.”
It’s an increase in numbers from last season. Having that many players has required some growth for the Bloodhounds’ older players.
“It’s good,” Knustrom said. “We’ve been practicing all together. It’s made some of them that needed pushed, pushed. It’s helped our upperclassmen develop as leaders, just because of the large numbers and only two coaches.”
Knustrom learned a lot about her team during a scrimmage session Monday in Mediapolis. The Bloodhounds faced Holy Trinity, West Liberty, West Burlington, Mediapolis and Fairfield.
“We learned that we needed to quicken up our game a little bit,” Knustrom said. “I think we do some really good things in practice, so I thought it was good to go judge ourselves against other teams.”
Knustrom lost a lot of hitting power from last season — Alaina Simpson, Anna Lynk and Genevieve Ruble combined for 386 kills. But she has been able to put together a lineup with players with varsity experience.
Aija Jenkins, who had 42 kills, moves from the middle to outside hitter.
“I’m super impressed with some of the things she’s doing,” Knustrom said.
McKenna Cashman and Elle Ruble will work on the right side, with Taylor Johnson (46 kills) and Lauryn Helmick (5 kills) in the middle.
Molly Knipe (350 assists, 33 kills) is back at setter. Isabella Boeding, Amy Yasenchok, Alexus Beebe and Dalaney Walker will provide back-row help.
Knustrom spent the week before the Bloodhounds’ season opener at the Bondurant-Farrar Tournament working with the team on being “uncomfortable.”
“I got some pushback yesterday,” Knustrom said, laughing. “But we’re working at being ‘uncomfortable.’ It’s good to be prepared.”
The Bloodhounds won just eight times last season, but Knustrom thinks the foundation is in place for a better year.
“Skill-wise, I feel like I’m not just bringing in everything new,” Knustrom said. “We’re trying to break years of habits, and I think we’re doing that. The culture, I think, is getting there.”
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