Trending
GRANITE FALLS -- Holly Johnson-Partington is back at the helm of the Yellow Medicine East volleyball program, and while she is excited about what this year’s team can accomplish on the court, her goals extend well beyond wins and losses.
Johnson-Partington is returning as the Sting’s head coach this season and believes coaching provides an opportunity to make a lasting impact on her players.
"I came back to coaching because I want to make a difference in these girls’ lives," Johnson-Partington said. "Teams are always judged by wins and losses, but I want to teach them how to win off the court as well."
For Johnson-Partington, some of the most valuable lessons she learned as an athlete came from coaches who pushed her beyond what she thought she could do. She hopes to bring that same mentality to her players.
Looking back on her own playing career, Johnson-Partington said her favorite coaches challenged her and taught her to find another level when things became difficult.
"So much of sports and volleyball is a mental game," she said. "It’s hard, but it is supposed to be, because we are teaching more than just volleyball skills -- we are teaching these young kids how to be successful one day."
The Sting will have some new faces in different roles this season after losing seniors from last year’s team. One of the biggest changes will come at setter, where Kourtney Peterson is transitioning from defensive specialist to take on a new role.
"It is always hard to lose seniors from the last season," Johnson-Partington said. "But, this year, Kourtney Peterson is stepping up from DS to be one of our setters, and she is doing great."
Along with Peterson, Johnson-Partington identified Abbey Bones and Bailey Mortenson as two other players who will be important pieces for YME this season.
"We have some great returning players this year," she said. "I am excited to have Abbey Bones (middle blocker), Kourtney Peterson (setter), and Bailey Mortenson (outside hitter) as three really strong, key players this year. Those three girls work really hard and know how to execute, they will be great leaders on our team."
While the Sting will rely heavily on those returning players, Johnson-Partington also expects the team’s depth to be one of its biggest strengths.
YME has a number of younger players who will be looking for opportunities, giving Johnson-Partington the ability to make adjustments throughout matches and provide fresh legs when needed.
"Watch for us to be scrappy defensively and aggressive at the net," she said. "We have a lot of young girls but we will have a lot of depth on the bench that I hope will allow us to make some changes during the games."
With a combination of experienced leaders and young players eager to contribute, the Sting will look to establish their identity early in the season.
For Johnson-Partington, the ultimate goal is to develop her players on the court while also giving them lessons that will carry with them long after their volleyball careers are over.