PREP VOLLEYBALL: Bemidji gears up for season opener with multi-team scrimmage

BEMIDJI - Twenty-two volleyball teams flocked to Bemidji High School Tuesday as they prepared for the 2015 season, which starts this weekend for most teams.
The Lumberjacks took on the likes of Fosston, Wadena-Deer Creek, Sebeka, Roseau and Thief River Falls as they prepare for their 3 p.m. game Saturday against Rochester Mayo at Hopkins High School.
“Today was nice to regroup and play some other teams,” said head coach Teresa Colligan. “We needed to really pick up our defense and I thought we did that, especially in our last match.”
Bemidji played Thief River Falls in the final two matches of the day for the morning session.
Unlike in the other matches, the Prowlers and Lumberjacks did a drill instead of playing straight up.
After a team served and the rally had finished, a coach would throw in another ball immediately and the teams would start up another rally. Once the second rally had finished then a team would serve again and the cycle continued.
“It’s a drill we saw at (the University of Minnesota),” Colligan said. “It gives a team a chance to see each rotation. Each rotation gets five receives and five free balls and so you’re getting 20 balls in each rotation. It gives you chance to see that rotation and what adjustments you might need to make.”
Colligan and her staff will spend the next couple days making their final adjustments before the season gets underway.
Saturday the team heads to Hopkins where it’ll be one of 34 selected teams to compete in the Side Out Classic.
The defending Section 8-3A champions will take on the Spartans, the defending Section 1-3A champions.
“I think we’re getting (ready),” Colligan said. “They are a very tough team. They have a big outside who had 450 kills last year and they have a good middle to go with her. The other outside is pretty decent, they didn’t lose much from their state team last year.”
The Lumberjacks also have a lot returning from their state team a year ago.
Saturday’s matchup has the potential to be an early look at a possible state tournament match with both teams defending their section titles with veteran-heavy lineups.
“It would be a great win,” Colligan said. “We’ll give it our best fight because we could probably both be at state this year.”