Aberdeen Christian will pick up the 2025 campaign where it left off in 2024 – playing the defending Class B state runner-up Warner Monarchs.
Much of that match-up remains the same. The Knights return the bulk of their roster from last year’s 17-13 squad, and the Monarchs, predictably, are Class B’s second-rated program in this season’s initial media poll.
But that doesn’t mean everything is the same. Christian takes the floor this year with a new face at the helm of the program in former Northern State standout Sally Gaul.
And even in the face of an admittedly formidable season-opening opponent, Gaul – the former 3-time All-NSIC performer and Honorable Mention All-American – said her squad is excited about the upcoming season.
“They’re all excited to play volleyball, and they love the sport and that’s all I can really ask for the first week of volleyball practice,” Gaul said.
Christian returns all but two players from last year’s squad that advanced to the semifinals of the Region 1B tournament. Gaul said that continuity has been invaluable in her first season at the helm.
“It’s nice that they all played together last year and they have a good team chemistry already,” she said. “Really it’s just teaching them the systems that I want them to play on the court. I don’t have to teach chemistry, which is nice.”
Continuity also means experience, and Gaul noted that the Knights have good – and still young – potential on the front lines.
“I think people are going to underestimate us at the net,” she said. “I really do. I think we have a lot of really good hitters that can put pressure both on the pins and in the middle. We have Ari Johnson who is a sophomore this year. She’s going to have an amazing season. Jolie Fogarty on the outside is going to do awesome this year. I’m just really excited to see what we can put together.”
With a roster that still features only two seniors, Gaul also noted that much of the team’s leadership comes across as a shared responsibility.
“Ali Isakson … has a bunch of experience playing on the varsity level,” Gaul said of her senior captain. “She is absolutely, has been and will be, one of our best leaders, especially having her in the back row. I think it will be awesome having her, as well as a lot of our juniors. Ari Johnson being one of the sophomores has also shown me a lot of leadership. She put together our team bonding. She loves to organize ways we can improve our team chemistry.”
The Knights begin the year hosting Warner tonight, and, though it is a stiff test out of the gates, Gaul said the challenge is something to be excited about.
“They’re going to test us,” she said. “I’m excited to see where we can improve from our first game to the next and then the next.”
On a personal level, Gaul is also excited to have that first test behind her.
“I think this first game is definitely one of the ones I think I’ll be most nervous for, just because it is something I haven’t done,” she said. “I’ve coached a lot of club, but I haven’t had the opportunity to coach high school volleyball, so I’m excited.”
