Youthful Belle Plaine volleyball forced to play tough

Belle Plaine's young volleyball team has to grow up even faster now.

The Class 2A, No. 3-ranked Tigers, with only one senior, were counting on sophomore outside hitter Mariena Hayden to provide leadership for their youth movement. Instead, she is sidelined with a back injury and expected to miss at least a couple of more weeks.

"I was anxious to see how the kids would react without Mariena," said Belle Plaine coach Cassie Koch, whose squad opened the season ranked No. 1 but has since dropped to third despite winning its first two matches. "We are really young on paper, but not on experience."

Hayden, who suffered a double stress fracture in her lower back, was the Minnesota River Conference's most valuable player a year ago. The two-year starter already has more than 1,000 kills in her career.

"It's been hard having to watch them play," Hayden said. She first hurt her back during the track season in May and reaggravated the injury when she fell playing AAU basketball over the summer. "They've done a really good job playing together."

Hayden has been cleared to begin practicing Sept. 29. She is expected to play in her first match the first week of October.

"I'm so excited to get back on the court," Hayden said. "I've already started a countdown."

Junior outside hitter Dakotah Poitra will help make up for the loss of Hayden. She is versatile enough to play all six positions on the court.

"We are an athletic team with good work ethic," Koch said. "We have some kids who are getting an opportunity to play who wouldn't have if Mariena had been healthy."

Belle Plaine opened its season with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-16 victory over Le Sueur-Henderson in a conference matchup.

It followed that up with a 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 triumph over No. 7-rated Jordan. The Jaguars finished second to Belle Plaine in the conference a year ago.

"I couldn't be happier with how the team has reacted," Koch said. "I've been impressed by their determination to compete at the top of the conference even without Mariena."

"It was a shocker when we heard she was out at the beginning of the season, but all of us have really stepped up our play so far this year," Hentges said. "We believe we can get back to the state tournament. That's what we are striving for this year"

Belle Plaine is coming off a fifth-place finish in the state tournament in 2013. It defeated Dassel-Cokato and Mora after falling to Fergus Falls in five-game marathon in the quarterfinals.

"We have a special group," Koch said. "They are talented, and really hungry. They want to make a statement the next two years."

Ron Haggstrom • 612-673-4498