FARSON — After years of working behind the scenes with the Farson-Eden volleyball program, Jennifer Applequist is ready to take the next step.

Applequist enters the 2026 season as the new head coach of the Lady Pronghorns, bringing years of experience as an assistant coach and middle school head coach into her first season leading the high school program.

“I’m very excited to start the season with a great group of young ladies,” Applequist said. “I’m also looking forward to working with my assistant coach, who has really put in the work with me this summer at open gyms and camp.”

Applequist has spent about a decade as a high school assistant coach, learning under former head coach Patty Mitchelson before taking over the middle school program for two years.

“I was extremely fortunate to be able to spend about 10 seasons as an assistant coach at the high school level, which allowed me to learn a lot from my head coach, Patty Mitchelson,” Applequist said. “Then I was able to try my hand at being a head coach at the middle school level for two years, which I really enjoyed. I think both of those experiences have prepared me to take on this new role.”

That experience will be put to the test as Farson-Eden works through a transition year that includes new players stepping into important positions.

The Lady Pronghorns lost their setter to graduation, and Applequist said a new player will take over the position after spending part of the summer attending camps to prepare for the transition. Farson-Eden also graduated a key outside hitter, creating another opening in the lineup.

Applequist expects her seniors, Bailee Neilson, Kenzi Reddon and Kali Neese, to provide leadership, while returning juniors are also preparing to take on larger roles.

The team has already spent time preparing for those changes. Farson-Eden attended a team camp in Casper and held several open gyms during the summer, giving Applequist and the players an opportunity to work together before official practices began.

Seven players attended the team camp, where the coaching staff was able to experiment with rotations. At open gyms, the focus was on fundamentals and keeping players engaged with the sport.

“We were also able to have some great workouts at open gym where we focused on fundamentals and just having fun with the game,” Applequist said.

That emphasis on fundamentals will carry into the opening weeks of practice.

“We will focus on fundamentals very heavily during the first two weeks, as well as understanding the game,” Applequist said. “We need to make sure we are strong passers and servers first, then we’ll solidify our hitting and blocking fundamentals.”

Applequist said the goal is to establish a strong foundation before the team turns its attention toward the more advanced aspects of the game.

She will have a familiar face alongside her in Morgan Long, who is returning to the Farson-Eden volleyball program as an assistant coach.

Long previously served as an assistant with the program before stepping away to focus on her family. She returns to the sideline this season and has already been heavily involved in the preparation process.

“Morgan has been great,” Applequist said. “She has attended all of our open gyms this summer, our team camp in Casper, and the coaches’ clinic. We have been able to work together a lot already, and I foresee a really good working relationship with her.”

With a new coaching staff structure and several players taking on expanded roles, Applequist said success will begin with establishing the right habits and expectations.

“I have high expectations for this team,” she said. “We have some very talented, athletic girls on the team. We will focus on getting better every day and building a winning culture.”

For Applequist, that culture is about more than simply the results on the scoreboard. She wants the Lady Pronghorns to develop an expectation of competing at a high level and carry that mindset into future seasons.

“In order for us to be successful this season, we will really need to solidify our fundamentals and understanding of the game,” Applequist said. “It will also be important to build a winning culture for volleyball so the girls will naturally expect to be competitive at the highest level year after year.”

That long-term approach is fitting for a coach who has spent much of her career connected to Farson-Eden and its athletic programs.

Now, with her first season as the varsity head coach approaching, Applequist is looking forward to helping shape the next generation of players.

“I am most looking forward to helping a new generation of young ladies love the game of volleyball,” Applequist said. “It’s a fantastic sport and I am looking forward to a great season with a wonderful group of girls.”