Yellow Medicine East Sting

Yellow Medicine East’s Ruby Bones goes up for an attack during a Camden Conference match against Minneota on Oct. 29, 2020 from Espeland Gymnasium. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

Sting has the experience to improve

Six starters return for Yellow Medicine East

BY MATTHEW CURRY | West Central Tribune

GRANITE FALLS — Yellow Medicine East brings back a series of returners and looks to have a successful season.

Alyssa Johnson will be returning for her third season as head coach of the Sting and her eighth season overall. She will be assisted by coaches Makayla Dyrdahl and Alexis Peters.

Despite losing outside hitter Alli Steffen, who led the Sting with 146 kills and 229 digs, and rightside hitter Jayden Sakry, one of the team’s ace serve leaders with 10, the Sting have some experience back. Six returning starters are expected, including three seniors, two juniors and a sophomore.

Ruby Bones, the 6-foot middle hitter, returns for her junior year. Bones finished her sophomore year second in kills with 86.

Yansi Flores, a 5-10 middle hitter, returns as a senior and one of the strongest players on the Sting roster. Flores finished last season with 11 aces, 198 digs and 71 kills.

“(Flores) has consistently been near the top of all of our leaderboards,” Johnson said. “She is a six-rotation player who is strong defensively and reads the court well to find ways to score.”

Yellow Medicine East’s Yansi Flores collects a dig during a Camden Conference match against Minneota on Oct. 29 from Espeland Gymnasium.

Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

Shelby Mortenson, the 6-foot right hitter, returns for her senior year as another offensive target with 72 kills last season.

Johnson believes last season may play a significant role in the upcoming year.

“I expect to see many improvements from our varsity team this upcoming season,” she said.

“I expect our 2021 team to capitalize on its size this upcoming season. We have quite a bit of height that will be a big weapon for us on the defensive and offensive end.”

YME will be in its home gymnasium for the season opener on Thursday, Aug. 26 against the Wabasso Rabbits.