Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Returning letterwinners for the Fort Dodge volleyball squad are, front row (left to right): Braxtyn Dencklau and Meah McCaleb. Back: Cadence Touney, LJ Maehl and Lucy Porter.

Beth Wilder hasn’t spent a lot of time coaching in Fort Dodge to date, but she knows her way around a volleyball court.

The Dubuque native and former four-year player at Bellevue (Neb.) University will join the Dodger coaching ranks as co-head coach for the FDSH program at the net this fall.

Wilder takes over for Lexi Astor, who coached the Dodgers for two years. Wilder will be joined by Julie Astor, a veteran assistant coach.

“It’s been fantastic working with Julie,” Wilder said. “She’s been around the game for a long time and knows the dynamic of Fort Dodge. We work well together.”

Wilder played all four years of high school varsity, then became a setter at the collegiate level for Bellevue. She spent 10 years in Omaha as a club coach, and served as an assistant at Millard South.

“Beth is a great asset to Dodger volleyball,” Astor said. “She is very detail oriented and expects the girls to grasp the basics first, which is what we have worked on the past couple of years. She is pretty clear about what she wants out of them and what it takes to win.

“We have a solid group of returning girls with significant floor time. There are younger girls pushing as well, and they’ll be asked to fill open positions. I expect us to be very competitive.”

Wilder moved to Fort Dodge when she married FDSH graduate and former Dodger basketball standout Blake Wilder. She coached the Fort Dodge seventh grade volleyball squad a year ago.

Wilder is the TAP (Transition Alliance Program) coordinator in the district.

“It’s been going really well,” Wilder said. “Julie and I have been collaborating. The girls have been working hard. I knew Lexi personally, and we have a lot of similarities in our styles.

“I’m big into discipline, commitment and work ethic. We are getting along well, and it’s been fun.”

With experience by her side, Wilder enters with a structure that is relatively easy to follow.

“I don’t feel like I’ve made a lot of changes,” Wilder said. “They had two years of coaching at a high level under Lexi, and they know that type of structure.

“I’m pretty comparable to that. They are catching on to things quickly and understanding. It’s a very coachable group.”

The Dodgers had a breakthrough season a year ago under Astor, winning 20 matches — most since the 2009 season. Fort Dodge was also crowned the Iowa Alliance Conference Northern Division champions.

Fort Dodge returns five starters from last year’s rotation, including two of which earned all-conference honors.

“It’s really nice coming in with this leadership,” Wilder said. “They’ve seen these other teams and have the knowledge of what they bring.

“This will be a great way to build a team, with outstanding kids on and off the floor.”

Senior Meah McCaleb was a unanimous first team all-league pick in 2023, while classmate Lucy Porter was an honorable mention. Also returning from the starting lineup are seniors Cadence Touney and Braxtyn Dencklau, along with junior LJ Maehl.

“We are going to rely heavily on Meah,” Wilder said. “She is a great athlete and leader ,and had a great club season. She is very confident. We need to feed off of that.”

In conference play a year ago, McCaleb ranked first in serve accuracy, second in digs, fourth in kills and fifth in kills efficiency. She recorded 199 kills and 280 digs.

Porter recorded 105 kills to go along with 144 digs and 26 blocks. Touney recorded 141 kills and 47 blocks.

Maehl was the Dodger leader with 43 blocks and 96 kills. Dencklau tallied 109 digs.

“Lucy is going on to play college softball, so anytime you have a college athlete, you want their leadership. She’s a hard worker,” Wilder said. “Cadence and LJ are very solid. We are going to ask a lot from them defensively and offensively.

“Braxtyn has been playing well and will be a huge asset. We are still figuring out some spots, and we also have some youngsters working hard to get in the mix.”

Wilder and Astor will be assisted by Tehya Lara. Jordan Westergaard will coach the freshmen.

The Dodgers open the season on Tuesday at home against Marshalltown. First serve is set for 7:15 p.m.

2024 FORT DODGE VOLLEYBALL

Roster

Seniors — Meah McCaleb, Braxtyn Dencklau, Katie Mason, Lucy Porter, Jacey Cooper, Grace Behrens, Lacey Larson, Cadence Touney.

Juniors — Maeleena Meyer, LJ Maehl.

Sophomores — Hope Alstott, Ellie Doster.

Freshman — Grace Nichols.

Schedule

Aug. 27 — Marshalltown; 31 – at Humboldt.

Sept. 3 — Des Moines Lincoln; 10 — at Mason City; 17 — at Humboldt; 21 — at Carroll tournament; 24 — at Waterloo East; 28 — at Boone.

Oct. 1 — Des Moines Hoover; 3 — Des Moines East; 8 — Ames; 12 — at Indianola; 15 — Webster City.