FARMINGTON, Minn. -- Replacing a five-year setter takes more than one player. Farmington volleyball will have a different look this fall with career assists leader
Maddy Dombeck now at North Dakota State University.
Senior Jada Henrikson will handle setting, but also hit. Dombeck's influence won't leave the gym any time soon, "She was really patient. That's what I learned from her. She didn't get mad or frustrated, which I saw that on and off the court. I thought that was good to see. Personally, to know that I can have that too, that piece of knowing that everyone's going to make mistakes. But also, how we bounce back is a big part of who we are."
She didn't play setter a lot during the club season and was using early practice sessions to get back up to speed.
Coach Mike Woody admits it's a challenge to turn the page, "It'll be tough. We have a senior Jada Henrikson, who's one of our captains and she's stepping in. She's seen some varsity time. She's going to play a hybrid role for us. We're going to go back to running a 6-2 because she's going to swing a lot. She'll swing some outside, some right side. She's been working really hard on her hands.
"We've got a couple of very athletic kids that are going to have opportunities to see who wins that other setting job…There's no replacing Maddy but I think we're going to be in a good position to move forward."
He's got reason to be optimistic, "A lot of the work ethic and a lot of what we've seen over the summer and seasons past, going into this year. We've got a couple of kids that have really been anxious and excited, even though they enjoyed playing with that group of seniors last year, they're excited to be able to have that role."
Junior captain Lexi West is a third-year libero, "I'm very talkative. I'm always helping out my teammates with where to hit balls, what spots are open. Also being a good energy on the court. Always hyping up my teammates if they get a good kill or an insane block."
She believes it will be a smooth transition to Henrikson setting, "She's amazing. I think we'll be good."
West is confident with the lineup FHS will put on the court, "I'm really excited to play with most of the same girls that we played with last year. And I feel like we have a lot of the incoming sophomores who have a lot of talent. So, it's going to be fun to see how we do this season and how our team does together."
Senior defensive specialist Mya Sharp says the team is close, "I think we're going to have a really tight team culture this year. We did lose a good chunk of seniors, but I feel like the girls we have returning are going to be super close. It's going to be a really fun season.
"We have a really good bond off the court that will transition well to our play on the court."
As a captain, Sharp is ready to pay the legacy forward, "The captains last year set a really good example and were good role models for me. [They] taught me how to be a good captain and be a good leader as well."
She said communication is critical both on and off the court.
Woody says the squad will work hard, "We're going to be a scrappy, ball-control team that is going to rely on defense and giving ourselves lots of opportunities to swing. Lexi has been our libero for two years. The girls around her, serve receive, I think is going to be really strong. We've lost a couple of kids from that arena, but we've got Mya Sharp who was [defensive specialist] for us last year that's coming in as a senior."
Numbers are great with 84 players out for the program.
Henrikson likes her options on distributing the ball, "I think our hitters this year are going to be really good. If Adi [Otto] can stay in, and she's going to be really good for right side. And then Sab [Caven] is outside. We have Taylor [Hagedorn] and Braelyn [Hendrickson] most likely for middle." Caven is a junior. Hendrickson and Otto are sophomores. Hagedorn is a freshman.
Otto has missed time each of the last two seasons due to injury.
Henrikson will use her focus from the track season here in the fall, "I think truly it's a mindset. It helps me in track to bring it back to volleyball. I have a really good track coach and so he helps me a lot with my mindset."
Henrikson has the school discus record and is eying the shot-put mark for the spring.
Woody says Lakeville North and South and New Prague are the section favorites. The Tigers played South close two years ago in an instant classic, leading 2-sets-to-1 with a pair of extra-point wins before the Cougars rallied. Last year FHS took the first set against Rochester Mayo before the Spartans came back.
Farmington went 15-13 last season overall and 3-6 in the South Suburban Conference. North won the league. New Prague won Section 1AAAA and lost in the state title match to Wayzata. Eagan from the SSC also went to state.
FHS begins the season on Thursday, August 22 at Northfield at 7 pm. The Tigers open the home schedule with Mayo on Saturday, August 24 at 1 pm. They follow that with a trip to Rochester Century on Tuesday, August 27 at 7:15 pm. Then comes a home match with Bloomington Jefferson on Tuesday, September 3 at 7 pm.
Farmington's first SSC game is at Apple Valley on Thursday, September 12 at 7 pm. The Tigers host their annual tournament on Saturday, September 14, which is also homecoming week.
Sharp says the team uses their home court advantage, "I feel like our gym just brings such a good vibe. It's super nice and we're lucky to have such a nice gym."
