Photo by Sam Thiel The 2021 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers volleyball team includes front row (L to R): Amber Hensch, Margaret Dolan, Maddi Langerock, Sheridan Ludeman, Camille Dolan, Jordan Munson, Lauren Zick, Grace Dolan, and Kamryn Petersen. Not pictured: Kiarra Danielson and Hailey Gernentz.  

TRACY — Last year, the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton volleyball team had another strong season, going 11-3 in their pandemic-shortened schedule. This season, the Panthers will have a strong veteran presence under coach Rick Haberman.

TMB will have multiple players back from a season ago, led by the team’s six seniors in Maddi Langerock, Sheridan Ludeman, Margaret Dolan, Camille Dolan, Kiarra Danielson and Lauren Zick. Amber Hensch, Kamryn Petersen, Grace Dolan, Jordan Munson and Hailey Gernentz also are back while Emma Edwards, Elizabeth Fultz, Ella Kamrud and Jaelynn Carter will look to make an impact this season.

Haberman said their experience and roster depth will be a key strength for their team this season, but added they hope to improve on their overall defense and be more consistent with serving and serve-receive.

“We have a lot of varsity experience and good team depth. We should be pretty balanced offensively,” Haberman said. “We are a decent defensive team, and we look to continue to improve in that category to hopefully become really, really good at it. We also look to continue to become more consistent at serve and serve-receive. There are a large number of players on our roster, so gelling into a cohesive ball team will be crucial to our success.”

Throughout the first couple of weeks of practices, Haberman said they’ve been focusing on their fundamentals and taking advantage of having a preseason.

“Just reviewing and breaking down all of the fundamental skills,” Haberman said. “It is really nice to have an August preseason again, which we missed out on last year.”

Haberman said he expects his group to continue to get better each day.

“[My expectations are] to start as a solid team and work hard to progress as the season goes into the very best team that we can be,” Haberman said. “And then continue to get better all along the journey and to enjoy every bit of the journey along the way.”

TMB will start the season on Aug. 31 at Windom Area at 7:15 p.m. Going into the season, Haberman said he’s looking forward to getting to work with his team and play in weekend tournaments and a postseason.

“Most of all just the opportunity to have a volleyball season and working with our kids,” Haberman said. “We are looking forward to having weekend tournaments and the post season, both of which we missed out on last year.”