Volleyball: YME Sting get back their head coach

August 28 - Granite Falls - A familiar face is back in the coaching box for the Yellow Medicine East volleyball team this fall. Holly Johnson-Partington, who previously guided the Sting in the early 2000s, has returned as head coach to replace Arei Stokes. This marks her seventh season as head coach for YME, aiming to improve upon the team's 2025 record of 6-19. Her assistant coaches are Cortney Lange and Aimee Johnson.

Johnson-Partington explains her return to coaching, stating that she wants to make a positive impact on the lives of these young athletes. She acknowledges that wins and losses define teams, but her primary focus is on instilling essential life lessons through sports. These include honesty, respect, accountability, punctuality, diligence, coping with constructive criticism, and understanding the importance of teamwork and support, both on and off the court.

Three starters will return for the Sting: setter Lexi Stengel, middle blocker Alana Almich, and outside hitter Bayli Sneller. The returning starters are Kourtney Peterson, Abbey Bones, and Bailey Mortenson, all positioned at the net. Peterson, a 6-0 senior, will transition from her defensive specialist role last season to serving as the team's primary setter.

Johnson-Partington expresses her excitement about having these three strong, key players on the team, noting their hard work and execution skills. They will also serve as valuable leaders for the team.

Completing the trio at the net is senior middle blocker Hanna Bjorndal, while London Dormaine, also a senior, will serve as a defensive specialist. Freshman Kresley Enninga rounds out the back row as the libero/defensive specialist. Johnson-Partington anticipates Hanna to become more aggressive at the net and a stronger team leader, while London will continue to maintain a positive attitude and high spirits within the group.

London's unwavering determination and upbeat demeanor are expected to bolster the team's overall performance. Johnson-Partington concludes by emphasizing YME's intention to be resilient defensively and aggressive at the net, leveraging the depth of talent on the bench to make necessary adjustments during games.