Program-Wide growth for Wolves volleyball

In the fall of 2021, Shann Mack returned to the sidelines for his second stint as head coach of the Three Forks High School volleyball team. With the student-athletes gaining a year of experience in his system, Mack is eager for 2022.

"We are so excited to get this season underway. We had a lot of girls put in a lot of time this summer and past club season. So very much looking forward to getting things going," said Mack. "Having a year in with this group has been incredibly beneficial. We all know each other better. The girls know what we expect from them as a staff. From our last meeting in May, we talked about adding on to the foundation that was built last year, and the girls have already shown us that they are very committed to that goal."

While the team did lose some talented seniors at the end of the 2021 campaign, the Wolves will return quite a few players with valuable varsity experience. Underclassmen who played on varsity last year include all-conference standout Addie Pestel, Natalie Pestel, Cheyenne Cavin, Fallon Page, Brianna Warren, Morgan Carr, and Eva Parker.

"It's always a huge plus when you have kids returning. The experience and confidence these girls gained from last season will be the fuel that gets this season rolling. These returners worked really hard in the offseason, and we couldn't be happier with their efforts and leadership already this season," Mack said.

Along with the talented returning players, Mack is excited about the growth he sees program-wide.

"The freshman class had a lot of girls putting in time in the offseason, and when freshmen can come in and push your upperclassman, it creates a very competitive gym, which is essential for program growth and success," he said.

Three Forks will open the season on August 26 and 27 with a packed schedule of matches at the Choteau Tournament.

Mack loves the tournament for all the opportunities it creates in such a short amount of time.

"This tourney allows kids to get out on the floor to get nerves out and get comfortable to rotations. It also helps coaches evaluate our lineups and allows coaches to recognize areas of weakness or confusion that need to be worked on before the regular season begins," he said.

The Wolves will be busy on the road at the start of the season. Following the tournament in Choteau, Three Forks will be on the road on August 30 at Jefferson (Boulder), September 1 at rival Manhattan, and September 8 at 5B for Big Timber.

The Wolves will open their home season on September 15 against Townsend.