By John RittenhouseThe 2004 Luverne High School volleyball team will be led into battle by a new head coach when the Cardinals take the court next fall.Lori Jacobs has been tabbed the program’s new head coach after a recent meeting of the District 2184 School Board. Jacobs will replace Mary Jo Graphenteen, a 19-year coaching veteran, as the LHS head coach. District officials opted not to renew Graphenteen’s coaching contract at a spring meeting.Jacobs won’t bring a lot of coaching experience to the volleyball program, but she’s enthusiastic about the opportunity of working with the players from Luverne."This is my first coaching job, and I’m really excited about it. I’m very much looking forward to it," Jacobs said. "I’m excited about meeting the girls, working with them and, hopefully, seeing the team improve."Jacobs is a native of Madelia, and a 1999 graduate of Madelia-Truman High School.She played volleyball, basketball and softball for the M-T Jay Hawks during her high school days.Jacobs attended Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) after high school, earning her teaching degree in May.She did not play college volleyball at Northern State.Jacobs, who learned of the coaching position at a job fair in Sioux Falls, plans to meet with Cardinal players and their parents prior to the opening day of practice Aug. 11.Jacobs, who will be assisted by Luverne’s Paula Lammert in the volleyball program, will be a second-grade teacher.
