RAY - Ray head volleyball coach Michelle Dolan expected some growing pains at the start of the 2009 season, but she wasn't sure how long they would last.

For the Jays, the pains are all but over as they have amassed a 24-8 overall record and are the No. 1 seed entering the Class B District 16 Tournament starting Monday.

"Things are going well," Dolan said. "We gained some experience early in the season and they've come together and are doing a lot better. We really just got our positions decided in early October and each of the kids in each of those spots are doing well."

Dolan noticed the improvement at the Northwest Conference Tournament, where the Jays won their pool.

"We did well there coming out No. 1 in our pool," she said. "We also took one from Kenmare and we just really played near our full potential I think, so hopefully we can keep that going."

With the improved play has come improved overall balance as well.

Along with senior middle Samantha Heier, an All-District, All-Region player in 2008, freshman Olivia Corcoran has been strong upfront for the Jays.

"Those two have been our hitting leaders," Dolan said of her two middles. "Olivia has improved her game and does good things in the middle and Samantha Heier is just a good all-around player.

Tricia Liesener has been solid at the setter position as a junior and freshman Kendra Heier has anchored the Jays defensively.

"We've played a lot of good defense this year," Dolan said. "Tricia has done well and Kendra Heier has improved and has been strong defensively."

The Jays receive an opening-round bye and will play the play-in winner of No. 4 Burke County and No. 5 Powers Lake Tuesday night in the semifinals. No. 2 Divide County will face No. 3 Tioga in Tuesday's first semifinal match at 6 p.m.

The only downfall entering the tournament for Jays and likely few others, is the ever-present flu bug. Dolan feels the short break before regional might help in that area.

"The illness has been hitting us, so hopefully by the time things get going we are healthy," she said. "From there we want to be playing at the level we've reached towards the end of the season. It's not going to be easy, we have three or four teams that are capable so we need to be ready."

Blue Jays

back on track

STANLEY - The Stanley Blue Jays made the trip to the Class B State Volleyball Tournament in 2008 and it was a valuable experience.

The Blue Jays will find out how much that experience is worth when the postseason gets underway starting with the District 15 tournament here next week.

Blue Jays head coach Jessica Niemitalo is hoping it will translate into solid performances over the next two weeks.

"I hope so," she said. "We don't have exactly the same people back but every girl was there last year. Hopefully that big-game experience will help."

According to Niemitalo, Stanley's overall play entering the tournament has been far better than earlier in the season.

"We've had our ups-and-downs, but our intensity is back and we are playing consistent again," she said. "Things kind of fell off for us for a while and we were playing more not to lose rather than playing to win. It's going to be important to stay focused."

Stanley enters the district tournament with a No. 1 seed, a 21-8 overall record and first-round bye. The Blue Jays will play the winner of No. 4 Trenton and No. 5 New Town on Tuesday at 6 p.m. On the bottom half of the bracket, No. 2 Watford City also garnered a bye and will await the winner of No. 3 Trinity Christian and No. 6 Parshall.

Now that the Blue Jays are back on track, Niemitalo feels they just need to maintain focus and continue to play balanced. Stanley has a pair of strong players at both the middle and outside hitter positions.

"The two middles Shaunessy (Dauwalder) and Brooke (Meyer) do well for us up front defensively. When they play well it really helps our diggers because it gives the opposing offense less to work with," Niemitalo said. "Offensively we look to the outside and they can really dynamic. Jasmin (Pappa) and Rachel (Mehus) are our outside hitters and they can be really strong.

"Overall I think we have great balance. On any given night someone will step up and be a leader."

Sophomore setter ReeAnn Mehus has also been strong for the Blue Jays after gaining confidence and experience as a freshman last season. ReeAnn Mehus has been stepping up also as a vocal leader.

"ReeAnn was the full-time setter last year so that's helped. She's been really solid this year," Niemitalo said. "One thing we lack is the vocal part of the game, but lately we've picked that up and ReeAnn has been stepping up as a vocal leader as well. We just need to maintain that consistency and be aggressive once the postseason starts.

"We want to take it to the other team instead of sitting back and waiting for things to happen."