Volleyball season gets underway this week

I've posted this link before in my blog, and even put in a brief in the paper, but I thought I'd do it again since it's one of my favorites to visit each day.

http://girlsvolleyballrecruit.blogspot.com/

It's all things Minnesota volleyball - high school, college, whatever. The blog founder, Kevin Anderson, recaps big matches he attends, but also links to numerous stories around the Web. The Leader even makes it once in a while.

Why I direct you to this is because the volleyball season is underway around the state. And there is some interesting matches that have already taken place.

Defending state champions and Missota champs Shakopee won in four games over No. 3 Eastview Friday. The No. 2 ranked Sabers were led by junior OH Ashley Wittman, who had 26 kills. In Thursday's sports preview, Hutchinson coach Dennis Piechowski calls Wittman the best outside hitter in the state.

Eastview was a solid team before it got transfer Ashley Murtha from Hutch (her dad lives in the Cities and she commuted last year). You'll remember she was second on the team in kills and first in blocks as a freshman. Well, she had nine kills in her Eastview debut.

Her sister, Laci, is also mentioned on Kevin's top Minnesota D2 returners from the NSIC:
Here are the top returners for D2
Emily Palkert, Concordia St. Paul, SW Christian Chaska 2.98
Sarah Wyffels, UM Duluth, Marshall 2.84
Maria Steinhagen, Concordia St. Paul, Alexandria 2.82
Amanda Beekman, MSU Mankato, Marshall 2.75
Leah Ashburn, SW MN State, Buffalo Lake-Hector 2.60
Kelsey Aden, Northern State, St. James 2.27
Nicole Olson, Bemidji State, Lake of the Woods 2.14
Laci Murtha, Mary, Hutchinson 2.08

Hutchinson starts their 2008 season with New Ulm tomorrow. The Tigers won 3-0 in 2007 and 3-2 in 2006. It should be interesting to see how Hutchinson plays the first week with the Eagles and Annandale.

Last year, I think the coaching staff didn't care for the easy schedule the first week, but this year, with five new starters, these matches should be good tests for a lot of varsity unprovens.

I'll be down there and I'll give you the recap upon my arrival back home Tuesday night.

Also of note from the past weekend:
Red Wing beat Hastings, 3-2
Northfield won its opener under a new coach, 3-2
No. 1 Chaska beat Mankato West, 3-0
Owatonna beat New Prague, 3-0
Farmington defeated Austin, 3-0

Two more links
A story on Burnsville's Tori Dixon, the daughter of former Viking David Dixon. Hutch plays in the Blaze Tournament this year. The Tigers also saw Burnsville at the Marshall camp and dominated when Dixon was in the match, but struggled when she wasn't.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/27340029.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:_D...

Star Tribune's John Millea breaks down the state's best
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/27339949.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUey...

Look for my next blog on the football scrimmage later in the day (or tomorrow if I can't get back to the office before I head to the Fair later in the day).