By Rich Winter

One of the surprise teams in Class A volleyball this season is the Garretson Blue Dragons. Entering their final regular season game against Sioux Valley Garretson is 22-1 and riding a 14 match winning streak.

It wasn't that long ago that Garretson broke a 69-match winning streak and the Dennis Northrup team just keeps getting better. The team finished 18-10 in 2019, 18-5 with a tough region loss in 2020. Coach Dennis Northrup breaks down his 2021 squad and talks about a volleyball program on the rise.

Northrup and Garretson a match meant to be

After successful stints at Hot Springs and Aberdeen Central, and following a divorce, Northrup decided to retire from teaching and coaching to be closer to his family. As he was getting ready to turn his computer in on the last day of work, Northrup sent one final email to Garretson. Thirty seconds later he got a response. That weekend he was granted an interview and later that day he was the volleyball coach for the Blue Dragons.