The 2022 Farmington volleyball team will have a few matches to get its feet underneath them before jumping into the hot lava of the South Suburban Conference (SSC) schedule. The squad returns just a handful of starters after graduating ten seniors from the 2021 roster.
               
Coach Mike Woody is looking for the experienced players to take the lead, "We've got a senior middle (Julia Gordon) that's been starting varsity for three years. Our setter (Maddy Dombeck), who's a junior, but's been the starter for three-plus years now…Becca Woody (junior); she was an outside last year and split time with one of the seniors."
               
They also return a libero who started part of last season. Mike Woody says ball control will be vital, "[we] just have some solid, solid passers and defenders that I think as we learn and the offense builds with the young kids, we're going to be able to keep balls alive."
               
Becca Woody offers, "I think we definitely have some pretty good offense especially with Julia in the middle. And then we've got some really good younger defensive players and so then throughout the years it will really start to build up. In the future it will be really nice." She says plenty of reps are the best way for new varsity players to adjust to the faster pace.
               
Gordon chimes in, "I feel like we really have to get the younger girls going because they're going to be a really big part of the program this year and in the coming years when I'm not here. I think they'll be really successful. And getting them going this year is really going to help us be successful."
               
As the Tigers transition to offense, "I think communication is a big piece and making sure that you are the leader out there and taking everybody under your wing," says setter Dombeck. "Julia is probably one of our biggest offensive threats and Becca as well. I think if we able to have a first-ball contact and be able to run an efficient offense, I think we have some very lethal weapons in the front row that can do some damage for us this year."
               
Gordon tags on, "I think Becca is really good at hitting off the block and that is a very valuable skill to have. And she's really the only hitter coming back, other than me. I run a really fast offense and that helps because in our conference the blocks are really big. One thing we are really good at is finding a way around the blocks. Because we're not necessarily the tallest people on the court, but we're really smart. So, we find a way to find use the block to our advantage."
               
Those first matches still carry consequences for the Section 1AAAA seedings in late October as the Tigers will open the season on August 25 at Northfield. FHS begins their home schedule on Saturday, August 27 against Rochester Mayo at 1 pm. That's followed by other section foes Rochester Century, and Owatonna in two of the next three matches.
               
Mike Woody says it's going to be a "rollercoaster ride. We're going to do a lot of really good things. And we're going to have a lot of opportunities to learn. Getting up to the speed at the varsity level will probably be what takes the longest. But we have some kids that are ready, but just don't have that experience at that speed of the game yet."
               
Team bonding has been easy says Gordon, "We did beach volleyball day and Spikeball…We're going to do more of that coming up. And just being here together definitely helps. A lot of us know each other even if we weren't on the same team last year…Just hanging out with each other at lunch. It's a lot of fun and it's definitely helped us build as a family in a way."
 
Mike Woody adds, "For example, we did a physical team-building challenge, kind of giving back at the same time. We helped the track team put the pole vault pits away and bring them down. They battled, got muddy, giggled, laughed and had a blast, doing something completely unrelated to volleyball, but buying into problem-solving and doing those things."
               
The SSC opener comes on September 15 at Apple Valley. The Tigers host a tournament on September 17. The true conference gauntlet begins when FHS faces Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Lakeville North in fairly quick order. Those three, plus Eagan, finished 2021 ranked in the top ten. North captured the MSHSL tournament consolation title. Entering the new season, the Panthers are fifth in the preseason poll. The Wildcats, whose section runner-up finish to East Ridge ended a seven-year streak of going to state, is rated seventh.
               
"It's always an uphill battle. But we love that challenge. Love going in being the underdog and see what we got," says Mike Woody, entering his 17^th season as Tigers head coach and 24^th over with the program.     
               
Becca Woody enjoys the focus that comes with the start of the season, "It's a lot of fun with everybody and just seeing how everyone enjoys it. And they can come in and just forget about everything that's going on. It's a fun time. We have a fun. But we get things done and we try to be as successful as possible."
               
Dombeck is thrilled to be back in the gym, "It's really nice to have everybody back in the gym, especially after COVID…getting back in the gym, getting more reps, getting practice. Getting used to each other and being more comfortable with each other. I'm really, really excited for this season."
               
Farmington also has a boys volleyball team, "The boys and girls volleyball programs have supported each other by helping to run each other's events; the girls run the scorers' table and line judge for boys' home matches…and the boys help run the scorers' table at our varsity home Invite.  They also make up a strong part of the fan base for each other," indicates Mike Woody.

Girls' assistant AJ Dubek is the boys' head coach. The high school league came close to sanctioning the sport in May. Jackie Jensen-Gordon and Madalyn LaChapelle are also on the girls' staff.


2022 Tiger Volleyball Captains (left to right): Becca Woody, Julia Gordon, Maddy Dombeck (Photo: Roy Koenigsberg)

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