The Mitchell High School volleyball team is embracing a new era, one that promises to be more disciplined and accountable, thanks to the leadership of head coach Amy Tyler.
New head coach Amy Tyler has set the tone for this season, emphasizing the importance of accountability and discipline. "What do you expect of us as coaches?" Tyler asked her team, and their response was clear: "They all said to hold us accountable."
The Kernels have a good share of returners from a 16-11 season and a Class AA state tournament appearance a year ago, but they need to replace key seniors in the heart of their lineup.
The team's captains have chosen the motto "Driven by discipline," and they want to do things correctly and efficiently. "It's been fun watching them work as hard as they have been working so far," Tyler said.
Summer practices were successful, with great attendance and a focus on ball handling. "Fitting the puzzle together is a little bit easier, understanding what each player is bringing to the table," Tyler said.
The Kernels' Class AA state tournament appearance in 2025 was MHS' first in eight seasons. That success gave the program a good taste of postseason volleyball, particularly the home win in the SoDak 16 over Spearfish.
Senior hitter Charleigh Collins said, "It sets the tone for this season. We know what we want to be this season, and we know we lost a lot of really good players." The Kernels will need to replace seniors Addie Siemsen and Kenna Soulek at the setter and libero positions.
Junior Londyn Hajek will take on the libero spot, while sophomore Sloan Stoebner is expected to lead the setting role. Defensive specialist Cassidy Korzan is expected to lead the back row as a senior.
The Kernels have been working hard on passing, a crucial aspect of their game. "We need to be able to control the ball in order to control the game," Tyler said. Junior Hajek emphasized the importance of passing, saying, "I feel like our serve-receive is what helped us get to where we were last year, and without having Addie, that will be hard."
The Kernels will be led by freshman Nia Talley and seniors Collins and Ivory Fenski as hitters. Sophomore Ashley Haring and freshman CeCe Morgan are expected to take on larger roles as hitters this season.
Coach Tyler has a proven track record, having coached for 16 years and leading the Wagner program to a pair of Class A state championships in 2008 and 2009. She has a career coaching record of 433-93 and is one of four coaches in South Dakota volleyball history with at least 400 wins and a career winning percentage of .800 or better.
The Kernels will host Sturgis at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, in the season opener at the MHS Gym. They will then travel to the Huron Invitational to face Class B powers Chester and Northwestern, plus Class A stalwart Dell Rapids and Class AA foe Spearfish. The Kernels' first Eastern South Dakota Conference match comes on Sept. 1 at four-time reigning state champion Harrisburg.
Source: Yahoo Sports
