(Audubon) Brandi Gruhn is in her first season as head volleyball coach at Audubon. So far she’s been encouraged with what she has seen from the team.
Coach Gruhn was impressed with the girls overall attitude and effort throughout the first week of practice. “The first week went really, really well. The girls had fun, we had music going. Them wanting to be there has been really impressive and how hard they’ve been working. It was a tough week with a really warm gym and no air conditioning. We’ve been working on some things with fundamentals and getting back into conditioning. Their overall effort has been insanely impressive so far.”
Serve receive will be a big point of emphasis along with communication. Jaci Christensen and Aleah Hermansen are the team’s two returning seniors. Christensen will look to be a force at the net. “Jaci’s been in our front row for the last couple of years. She’s really come a long as a hitter for us. I’m excited to have her be in her final year here. She’s hit outside for the last three years. We might be moving her around maybe to middle or something like that. Just looking at her strengths, she’s a really good blocker.”
Hermansen is in just her second year of volleyball, returns as the setter. “She’s doing a really great job at that and I’m hoping to run a 6-2 so she’ll be doing some hitting for us as well. She’s looking really great in the setter position and we are working on her hitting. She’s left handed so having her there on the right side is convenient.”
Coach Gruhn is looking for sophomores Addie Hocker and Mattie Nielsen to really emerge this season while Audrey Jensen and Kylee Hartl will be major contributors.
