Submitted photo The 2024 Murray County Central volleyball team consists of (back row, left to right) Suttyn Schivers, Reese Gilbertson, Peyton DeGreef, Calleigh Doeden, Lila Scandrett, Erynn Rohrer, Avery Thovson, Thea Schnieder, (front row) Ava Deacon, Kate Blankenship, Emmi Peltola, Kelli Miller and Elyse Paulzine.

SLAYTON — With a stagnant performance increase under new coaches, the Murray County Central Rebels have goals to continue building up the volleyball program and make another postseason run. 

Becky Reinsma and Katie Furth are going into their third year co-coaching MCC. In their first year, the 2022 Rebels finished 9-13 overall, and last year 11-15. Led by four seniors and welcoming eighth grader Avery Thouson, Reinsma and Furth will look to continue to increase their win totals. 

“We’re looking forward to keep upping our season wins every year,” Reinsma said. “Excited to get the program started.”  

The two coaches said the victories will come from their defense, which they will work to perfect throughout the season. 

“We’re going to still focus on our ball control, serving, receiving and digging,” Reinsma said. “But, hitting is a big thing, and blocking. Our defense is what we really focus on.” 

Senior Kelli Miller will be the starting setter this season. In her 66 sets played last season, she had 71 digs, 17 service aces and 177 set assists, which were a team-high.  

Senior Emmi Peltola will hold the role of libero. She had a team-high 198 digs last season and 15 service aces. 

With a handful of seniors graduating at the end of last season, the younger players will now have a role of stepping up. Reinsma said team chemistry has been operating well and growing through practices in the preseason, and mentioned that it’s important the seniors continue to embrace the underclassmen. 

Senior Thea Schneider had 95 kills for the Rebels last year and 62 set assists. Junior Kate Blankenship also added 113 digs. 

“Katie and I are both very competitive, and we try and instill that in our other girls,” Reinsma said. “If they see us competing and wanting to win, we’re hoping that carries all over, and it sounds like it is.” 

There are currently no injuries to start the season and all players are healthy. 

Reinsma and Furth approach competition with small goals one at a time, taking it set by set. 

“We got to focus, and we try to go like, the first one to five, or the first one to 10,” Reinsma said. “We have little goals for us during the game.” 

The Rebels last season got to the second round of the 2023 Section 3A tournament, defeating Red Rock Central before losing to Heron Lake. 

MCC began their season on Thursday against Canby, dropping three consecutive sets. Canby earned the second seed in the 3A tournament last season and made it to the semifinals before falling to No. 1 Minneota for a spot in the state title game. 

“We’re just looking to improve and have a good time, and take every little step,” Reinsma said. “We will focus on, like I said, defense, and then when we are getting that down, we will still focus on the defense, but focus on something different every day. We see what we see in a game, and we work on what we need to with what we saw.”