Longtime Coach Betsy Rall Returns to HS Volleyball

COLUMBUS - Columbus Lakeview fans and players are seeing a familiar face on the sidelines, as coach Betsy Rall makes her return to prep volleyball. Rall has been a longtime coach in the Columbus area, coaching for the likes of St. Edward and Lakeview, before taking over a coaching position at Columbus High in 1998. She was head coach from 2000-'06, and won GNAC conference titles in 2001, 02, 03, and 04, on her way to competing for a State Championship in 2004. Rall's last season was in 2006, and she since has been coaching with the Columbus High cross country teams, and Lakeview club volleyball teams. Rall suffered a stress fracture in her foot over the summer, so she opted not to coach cross country this season, because she couldn't run along with the athletes. That's when Lakeview Head Coach K.C. Belitz asked her to fill the roll of assistant for the Viqueens. Belitz says, "Coach is such a great technician, she has such a great pair of eyes for volleyball. She helps us make in-game adjustments, and helps us makes improvements in practice as well, we're very fortunate. My first year up here, coach was here, and 20 years later she's back, so it's kind of fun." Rall has been coaching since 1986, spending some of her time coaching in her off-seasons as a college setter for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. "I'm focusing on the setters, with Lakeview, and just the all around fundamentals. As a coach I feel like my strength lies in coaching fundamentals and individual athletes," says Rall. Rall has since been inducted into the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Athletic Hall of Fame for her performance as a setter for the volleyball team. Roughly 3 and a half years ago, Rall was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and thanks to a proper diet and holistic treatments, she says she has been able to prevent the disease from progressing. Because of this, Rall says she is very deliberate in any lifestyle changes that she makes, and says being around a positive person like Belitz made her decision to return to prep volleyball much easier. "I successfully treated holistically, I really don't have any symptoms or any progression, nothing. But I had to change my lifestyle," says Rall. Rall is also working at Central Community College, after a long career with the Columbus High math department, and is teaching math, as well as working with the office of extended learning. Which focuses on getting high school students enrolled in dual credit courses for college. Rall says working at CCC has been a great working environment, and says making career decisions is a key component to making sure she continues to live a healthy lifestyle. For those dealing with MS, Rall says she is always excited to share her success story. Lakeview has a lot of roles being filled by new people in the 2017 season, including an assistant coaching position being filled by one of the best to coach the sport, in Columbus.  
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