New coach, new class, lots of experience

While some may be wondering if Bigfork High School's switch to Class B was a necessary one, the volleyball team's roster may be the perfect example of the decline in numbers that were the basis of the decision.

The team has just four incoming freshmen, only one of which has every played on a volleyball team. The lack of numbers means new head coach Tammi McDaniel had to present the team of 24 girls with a choice. Either they had to agree to play down on the junior varsity and freshman teams, or she would have to cut the lower level teams. So the girls all agreed to do what it takes to keep all three teams competing.

"The freshmen need playing time and the freshman matches are the only place they're going to get it," McDaniel said.

What the team is lacking in underclassmen numbers they make up for with senior leadership. They are returning seniors Kelly Deaton, Emily Hardman, Claire Wilken, Hillary Bilodeau and Nikie Bilodeau.

Though last year's team wasn't known for its height, this year's team struggles even more in that aspect.

"We're not the biggest team," McDaniel said "We're not very tall. So hopefully one of our strengths will be intensity on defense."

McDaniel, who coached many of the girls on the Valkyries team when they were in middle school, is making a few adjustments to the team.

"We switched around a little bit where our setter is going to be on defense," she said. "I think last year the setter was too far from where she needed to be. By the end of the game she had ran around so much she was out of gas. I asked the girls whether they wanted to set it up old school, which is my way, or new school, which is how they did it last year, and they said they wanted to try it this way, so we'll see how it works out."

Having gotten to watch matches from the stands rather than coach last year McDaniel, whose daughter Amber, a sophomore, is on the team, has a few other things she'd like to see the girls do differently.

"I want them to start following behind the ball when they over pass," she said. "Those are just easy balls for the other team to hit and they need to be ready for it. It's hard for them because they aren't used to doing that, but they'll get it."

From what McDaniel has seen from the girls in practice and in previous seasons, she said there are plenty of positive things they are doing that should lead to some success this season.

"They're a pretty good group of kids when they communicate with each other," McDaniel said. "They already have a pretty good communication game going on, but you always have to work on it so it becomes habit. I don't think that part is going to be a problem."

The Vals will begin their season at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Whitefish Startup Tournament. Even though BHS is now a Class B school, the volleyball team will still participate in this Class A season kick off tournament, as well as the Tip-off Tournament in Anaconda Sept. 11-12, in order to even out the number of teams in the bracket.

"They like being able to play those Class A schools," McDaniel said of her team. "It's good for them to see how they measure up. I don't want to say that it steps up the intensity because there are lots of good teams in Class B. I hope that we go into every Class B match with the same intensity that we do those Class A tournaments. We're going to have to do that if we are going to be successful."

Following the Whitefish tournament, Bigfork will play in their first District 7B conference match at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Thompson Falls and will host their first home match at 4:15 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 3, against Deer Lodge, which is non-conference.