For Evelyn Jessen, volleyball has never been just about what happens when the whistle blows. As a senior on Minot North’s varsity volleyball team, she has spent the beginning of her final season watching a new group of players grow together, take on bigger roles and begin to shape the identity of a young program.

And if there is one thing Jessen has learned in her years of volleyball, it is that a team is built long before the first serve.

“When it comes to building chemistry for my teammates, that’s not a problem,” Jessen said. “All of these girls truly have become my closest friends.”

That chemistry has become one of the biggest strengths of this year’s Sentinels. Whether the team is celebrating a point or trying to recover from a difficult stretch, Jessen said the players rely on each other. The friendships formed through practices, games and team activities have created an environment where the players are not simply teammates, but people who genuinely enjoy being around one another.

“My favorite thing about the program is definitely the people,” Jessen said. “Not only do I get to spend time with them every day, but I get to play a sport we all love together.”

While the connection between the players may come naturally, this season has brought a different challenge: establishing a new identity. Minot North’s volleyball program is still young, having started with freshman teams in the fall of 2022. Last year, the players who had helped build the program from its beginning graduated, leaving this year’s team to take the next step forward.

For Jessen, that change has made the season feel less like simply continuing what came before and more like starting a new chapter. “This year more than others has been heavily focused on what we mentally put into the game,” she said.

That mental approach has become a major part of the Sentinels’ preparation. Jessen credits head coach Mrs. Francis with giving the team strategies to turn to when a game begins to feel overwhelming. Instead of allowing one mistake or difficult stretch to determine the rest of a match, the team has focused on staying mentally prepared and finding ways to respond.

That mindset has translated into improvement on the court as well. The Sentinels have been working to quicken their offense, adjust to new positions, become more consistent in passing and serving, and, perhaps most importantly, continue fighting for every point until the final whistle.

Jessen has been part of that effort herself. Through nine sets, she has recorded 16 kills and 5.5 blocks, averaging 1.78 kills and 0.61 blocks per set. The Sentinels have also begun to build momentum, bouncing back from a 3-0 loss to Legacy with consecutive 3-0 victories over Williston and Dickinson.

Still, numbers only tell part of the story.

For Jessen, one of the most rewarding parts of the season has been seeing younger players become more confident. Players who once entered the program as eager freshmen are now stepping onto the court ready to take responsibility, and Jessen said she has been impressed by how quickly they have grown. “Watching players transition from eager freshmen into confident peers who stand right beside you on the court is rewarding for any senior,” she said.

That perspective has shaped the way Jessen approaches her own role. Although she has experience in leadership positions throughout school and other areas of her life, she said senior leadership is not about commanding attention. Instead, it is about making sure every teammate feels supported.

“Leadership doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room,” Jessen said. “It’s about being there for everyone, no exception.”

For Jessen, that means being someone younger players can look up to both on and off the court. She hopes they see someone who is fun, kind and willing to make smart decisions, even when doing the right thing means going against the crowd.

Ultimately, Jessen’s goals for her final season extend beyond the scoreboard. She wants her teammates to have fun, improve their skills and discover their own reasons for playing the sport. That lesson, finding a greater purpose behind volleyball, is something she said has carried her through both school and club seasons, and there is still plenty of time to make memories.

From dress-up practices to team activities and the countless small moments that happen between games, Jessen said some of her favorite parts of the season have nothing to do with the final score. With the season still young, she is looking forward to seeing what moments are still waiting for the Sentinels.

For a program that is still writing its story, this season is another opportunity to build something lasting. Jessen hopes that when she eventually steps away from Minot North volleyball, she can leave the program with more than she found.

“We are grateful to have all of the people supporting us and for the chances offered,” Jessen said. “Keep an eye out because truly the best is yet to come.”