First-year Pella High volleyball coach Catie Brand enters this fall with much of the program feeling very new. The Lady Dutch have a mostly new coaching staff that is helping several new players fit into new roles. Still, it’s likely that some parts of what the team will work on will remain the same. That’s because Brand says last season – her first as an assistant on the Pella High squad – afforded her the opportunity to learn a great deal from former coach Bob Fessler.

“I really liked Bob’s balance of focusing on the game – teaching strong fundamentals – but also creating a culture that was very focused on team unity and the relationship of the team,” said Brand.

“Even though our record was not where we necessarily wanted it to be, I think the girls had a great experience with each other; and I think we were still laying a foundation of things to build in the Pella program. So I really appreciated his [Fessler’s] volleyball knowledge, his sharing of what it takes to build a team – how to keep it competitive – and also just to continue to invest in your people and your staff; which I hope to be able to do with my staff as well.”

Brand and the new-look Pella High volleyball team open their season on Saturday, August 25th, in an invitational at Bondurant-Farrar.

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