MULLAN — After three decades at the helm, head coach Dawn McKinnon is preparing her Lady Tiger volleyball squad for another promising new season. 

Following last year’s challenges with a young and inexperienced team, McKinnon is optimistic about the growth and grit her returning players bring to the court. 

“Last year we had a very young squad with limited experience on the floor,” said McKinnon. “Always able to compete, but short on the winning side of the ball!” 

McKinnon is starting the season with nine girls, giving her more of a rotation than she’s had in some time, but in the face of low numbers, she preaches accountability and versatility to her players. 

“A small squad makes each player accountable to showing up and being able to play all the way around,” McKinnon explained. 

Senior Avah Blankenship, a standout athlete known for her front-row dominance, will likely stuff the stat sheets for Mullan, but they’ll need her to be her best if they want to get back to playing for trophies.  

“We will be led by Avah, who is a solid all-around player. Her specialty is front row blocker and hitter,” McKinnon said. 

Last season wasn’t great for the Tigers or the North Star League as a whole. Collectively, the three teams that comprise the NSL went 14-30. For Mullan, their season ended in a loser-out district game against a plucky squad from Kootenai, who subsequently lost to league newcomer Coeur du Christ in the District championship. The Saints then lost a state tournament play-in game to St. John Bosco.  

With more experience on the floor and a renewed sense of purpose, McKinnon is focused on both performance and team spirit, turning last year’s lessons into victories.  

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: The Tigers will play solid inside their league schedule. They should play for the 1A District 1 championship, where they are more than capable of stealing a big one from Coeur du Christ.