What head coach Kayla Zehms calls a well-rounded Martin County West volleyball team opens its season Saturday with three matches at the Adrian/Ellworth tournament.
"We've been working hard," Zehms said. "We had a scrimmage at Cleveland and competed well against the teams we saw there. I'll be excited to see how we can do in Adrian against some teams that we aren't used to seeing."
Zehms said the Mavericks will be dressing 15 players and the talent level is consistent throughout the entire group.
Junior Grace Bicknase and freshman Emily Anderson are both setters and will also do some hitting for MCW.
Seniors Hailee Schuett and Lauren Borchardt return on the right side and junior Bella Lange is new to the varsity this year and can play right and middle.
Senior Taylor Elliott can play outside and middle, while junior Lucy Larson is back on the outside.
A couple of others who could see some court time are junior Aspen Kosbab (outside) and sophomore Liv Borchardt (middle).
Zehms said that the Mavbericks have a number of phenomenal passers in the back row in seniors Paige Anderson and Zoie Thate, as well as juniors Emma Omvig and Anna Bachenberg.
After a Covid-altered 2020 season, it's nice to have this season starting on an almost normal basis.
"It's very nice to be back to pretty normal," Zehms said. "Even to have people watching us in Cleveland was awesome. Not having to wear a mask on the bench or sit six feet apart was also really nice. We do still have to wear a mask on the bus, but I'll take it if it means we can play volleyball with some fans."
MCW will be wearing those masks on the bus for the trip to Adrian Saturday for a tournament after tournaments were not allowed last season.
In order, the Mavericks will play Hills-Beaver Creek, Central Minnesota Christian and the host Dragons. Each match is best-of-three with a cap of 28.
That will be one of two tournaments MCW is scheduled to play in this season. The Mavs are also in the SMSU tourney Oct. 1-2.
They had been scheduled to play in the Carolyn Hummel tournament in Jackson on Sept. 18, but that's homecoming week at Martin County West and the football game is slated for an afternoon kickoff.
After the AE tourney, MCW is at Fairmont on Thursday. The home and Valley Conference opener for the Mavericks is Thursday, Sept. 9 vs. Madelia.
MCW volleyball schedule
Sat., Aug. 28 - at Adrian/Ellsworth tournament, 9 a.m.
Thurs., Sept. 2 - at Fairmont, 7:15 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 9 - Madelia, 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 14 - Martin Luther/GHEC/Truman, 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 16 - Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 21 - at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 23 - at Nicollet, 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 28 - St. Clair, 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 30 - Blue Earth Area, 7:15 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 1 - at SMSU tournament
Sat., Oct. 2 - at SMSU tournament
Mon., Oct. 4 - Sleepy Eye, 7:15 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 5 - at Loyola, 7 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 7 - at Luverne, 7:15 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 11 - Jackson County Central, 7:15 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 12 - at Alden-Conger, 7 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 18 - Pipestone, 7:15 p.m.