The Becker Bulldog girls volleyball team has a lot of returning talent and some promising up-and-coming underclassman that should equal a very competitive season and more success than years past.

 

Taylor Essen is entering his second year as the head coach and he is very excited for this year’s team. Essen is mild-mannered and even keeled and figures his coaching technique is exactly what his girls appreciate about his manner of teaching.

 

“My patience and level headedness during games keeps the girls focused and consistent,” he said.

 

Essen has a new ninth grade coach under him in Kristen Ulsby as well as two new junior high coaches (unnamed). 

 

“We have some amazing coaches in place at the younger levels that are dedicated to the kids and the sport,” Essen said.  “That kind of dedication keeps producing solid skill foundations that lead to great players at the high school level.”

 

Essen’s assistants are Racqel Barthel, Stacey Angell and Reyan Robinson.

 

The coaches have been having the girls practice hard over the last month or so and has the team continuing to focus on passing that hopefully will lead to more offensive opportunities for the team’s strongest hitters.

 

Team captains are Sam Haugen and Megan Albertson.

 

“The future of volleyball in Becker looks very bright,” Essen said. “We continue to have good numbers at all levels.”

 

The team consists of: Sammy Gruber, Alexa Hanowski, Haugen, Albertson, Whitney Raygor, Sam Angell, Brittany Beutz, Sydney Busch, Paige Artmann, Kalie Jergens, Kalley Anderson and Brynn Barthel.