The 2022 volleyball season was most denoted by always strong Mabel-Canton (14-0, 36-3) breaking a decades long drought and making state. Caledonia (10-0, 19-13) also had a great year, winning the TRC title and finishing as 1AA runner-up. Chatfield (9-1, 26-3), Spring Grove (12-2, 28-5), and Fillmore Central (8-2, 19-11) nipped on M-C and Cal’s heels in their respective conference’s races. The Gophers and Lions made their section final four. Grand Meadow (11-3, 17-12-2) won the SEC-West. Rushford-Peterson (5-5, 21-8) and Lanesboro (10-4, 15-13-1) won more oft than losing while LeRoy-Ostrander (8-6, 11-18), Houston (7-7, 8-16), and Kingsland (5-9, 11-15) were below .500. The 2023 season should again see many of the above powers pounding their way to wins, as M-C (#2 in A), Caledonia (#4 in AA), Chatfield (#7 in AA), and FC (#7 in A) are ranked pre-season.
It finally happened. After years of being close, Mabel-Canton volleyball finally won the Section 1A title and made state. The Cougars then won two of three matches, beating Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 3-2 in comeback fashion to take third on the big stage. Lonnie Morken’s SEC-East champions (14-0) finished 36-3 overall, posting a school-record win total in an unforgettable season. What will defending section champ M-C do for an encore? Be good is a near inevitability. The Cougars had four All-SEC performers last year and three return. They graduated just two seniors total from their eight-girl rotation. One was former SEC Player of the Year and three-time All-league pick Sophie Morken (5’7” OH > 211 kills, team-best 435 digs, 70 aces). The other was All-SEC Honorable Mention pick MaKenzie Kelly (5’5” libero > team second-best 433 digs, 65 aces). The three returning All-SEC picks are very good ones, 2022 SEC Player of the Year Sahara Morken (5’4” Jr. setter), Kinley Soiney (5’10” So. MH), and Saijal Slafter (5’8” Jr. MH). Morken, a two-time All-SEC pick and 2022 Class A All-State selection, notched 1,263 assists last year alone. She added 73 kills, a team-best 95 aces (on 95.9% serving), and 335 digs. She is already well over 2,000 career assists and is the reigning Journal-Sports “Volleyball Player of the Year.” Soiney was a go-to offensive force number one a year ago, amassing a team-best 441 kills on .340 hitting plus 104 total bocks. The two-time All-SEC pick Slafter was “O” option number two, tallying a team second-best 356 kills on a team-best .356 hitting. After those three, Coach Morken will look for the continued development of returning full-timers Kailey Ingvalson (5’8” Jr. OH > 205 kills, 288 digs, 94.7% serving, 46 aces), Lydia Vatland (5’4” Jr. DS > 164 digs, 93.8% serving, 37 aces), and Hope Erickson (5’8” Jr. RH > 126 kills, 84 digs) plus Ava Jacobsen (5’4” Jr. OH > 71 digs) and Tylar Wenthold (5’7” So. RH). M-C has zero seniors but seven juniors. The #2 in A Cougars have weekend tournaments at Floodwood, Heritage Christian Academy, and in Burnsville for the Class A Showcase (9/22 & 9/23). They open the season (8/24) hosting defending SEC-West champion Grand Meadow and have match-ups with Spring Grove September 7 (home) and October 3 (away).
Caledonia kept up its strong tradition by making a run all the way to the 1AA Section title match last year. Scott Koepke’s group won the TRC in sweeping fashion (10-0), then won three play-off matches including downing state-ranked Zumbrota-Mazeppa before finally falling to (eventual state champion) Cannon Falls 3-1. Caledonia finished 19-13 as 1AA runner-up, playing a tough all-classes schedule. Like M-C, they too look primed to continue their strong play. The Warriors had five All-TRC selections with only two graduating. Both were good ones, two-time all-league picks Jovial King (5’10” setter > team-high 631 assists, over 1,000 career helpers) and Paige Klug (5’10” OH > team second-best 241 kills). But of seven seniors last year, only the above duo played every match. Caledonia returns all their other key players including three All-TRC picks. They tie Chatfield and FC for a most returning honorees. Senior Logan Koepke (5’10” OH), maybe the league’s top hitter and best all-around player, heads the cast. The coach’s daughter has put together the rare feat of back-to-back 300 kill seasons (339 in 2022, 311 in 2021) while also averaging over 300 digs (271 in 2022, 357 in 2021) in that span. She is a two-time All-TRC pick and was the 2021 Journal Sports’ ‘Volleyball Player of the Year.’ Fellow all-league picks Braelyn Lange (5’10” Sr. MH > 132 kills, 28.5 aces blocks) and Liv Myhre (6’1” Jr. OH > 124 kills, 35.5 ace blocks) are two more credited long attack/blocking artists. Caledonia also returns All-TRC HM picks Aubrie Klug (5’9” So. OH/DS > team-best 279 digs) and Emme Kittleson (5’6” Sr. OH > 95.1% server, 141 digs, 52 kills) plus experienced gals Sienna Augedahl (6’0” Jr. OH > 57 kills, 31 ace blocks), Kennedy Hansen (5’6” libero/DS > 92 digs), and Emma Rommes (5’7” Sr. setter > 170 assists, 76 digs). Replacing King at setter will be one key. Rommes co-set to start last year. The Warriors again will be one of the tallest lineups in the TRC. Koepke, Lange, Kittleson, Rommes, Hansen, and Annah Anderson (5’6” setter/OH) are the six returning seniors. Caledonia, ranked #4, plays tourneys at Apple Valley, Burnsville (the Class AA Showcase on 9/22 and 9/23), and Lakeville North plus has non-conference games with Winona, Byron, Z-M, and Decorah. Key TRC games are with at home with Chatfield (10/5) and at FC (10/17).
Finishing right behind the Warriors in the TRC a season ago was Chatfield. The young Gophers splendidly went 9-1 in the TRC (only losing to Caledonia) and 26-3 overall, setting a school-record for wins. Chatfield was finally downed by (eventual state champion) Cannon Falls 3-0 in the 1AA semis. The Gophers will go through a coaching change. Kristi (Bren) Rindels takes over for Molly Thomas. Rindels is a Gopher grad and has recently assistant coached volleyball at Fillmore Central. She inherits a strong group that graduated just two seniors and only one of four All-TRC picks in Kara Goetzinger (5’9” MH > 111 kills, 47 total blocks). Chatfield returns as many All-TRC selections as any team in the league. Jaelyn LaPlante (5’8” Jr. OH) and Harper Goldsmith (5’4” So. setter) head the cast. The explosive LaPlante, a two-time All-TRC pick, led the team with 341 kills a year ago (.285 hitting) while adding a team-second-best 244 digs. Goldsmith had a big year in her first at setter; 693 assists, 158 digs, 73 kills, a team-best 60 aces. Libero Cora Bicknese (5’4” Fr. > 364 digs, 44 aces) is the Gophers third All-TRC returnee. She led the team in digs as just an 8th grader. Chatfield also returns All-TRC HM picks, second-leading hitter Trindy Barkeim (5’7” So. OH > 213 kills, 155 digs, 43 aces) and defender Lexi Hinckley (5’6” Sr > 149 digs, 47 kills, 43 aces). Evy Goldsmith (5’8” Sr. MH > 105 kills) and Charleigh Larson (5’9” Sr. MH) are two other experienced assets. The latter three, Lauryn Daniels (5’7” RH), and Kieran Schmaltz (5’7” OH) give the Gophers five seniors. With a still young but talented group, Chatfield should again be formidable. The #7 Gophers have tourneys at Rochester-Century, Burnsville (the Class AA Showcase, 9/22 and 9/23), and Goodhue. They have pure non-con games with Pine Island (season-opener 8/28) and Lewiston-Altura. They are notably at FC (9/12) and at Caledonia (10/5).
Checking in after Chatfield in the TRC standings a year ago were the Fillmore Central Falcons. Travis Malley’s group went 8-2 in the TRC, losing only to Caledonia and the Gophers. They were one win short of 20 for the season, going 19-11 overall. FC’s season ended to Spring Grove in the 1A quarters by 3-2 final (18-25, 26-24, 25-13, 19-25, 12-15). The Falcons played seven girls full-time last year. Three were seniors, Abby Bothun (5’9” OH > 221 kills, 241 digs, 45 aces), Regan Hanson (5’8” MH > 119 kills, 227 digs, 37 aces), and Madison Simon (5’9” MH > 94 kills). Bothun and Hanson were All-TRC HM. All told, five seniors departed. But the Falcons return as many TRC picks as any team in the league, three. Kammry Broadwater (5’10” Sr. OH), Alyssa Britton (6’0” Sr. MH), and Kyla Hellickson (5’8” So. Libero) give FC a strong highly experienced nucleus. All are two-plus year starters. Broadwater is a two-time All-TRC pick. She led the Falcons in kills last year with 240 while chipping in 229 digs and 31 aces. Britton was third on the team with 196 kills but posted a squad-best 54 total blocks plus 35 aces. Hellickson has led the squad in digs (403 in 2022, 380 in 2021) and aces (60, 57) the past two seasons. Setter Aubrey Daniels (5’6” So.) is also back. She racked up 650 assists, 198 digs, and 64 kills as a frosh orchestrating the FC offense. New players will then be asked to fill roles, as only the above four were regulars last year. FC’s strong program again being the year ranked #7. Katie Pickett (5’6” setter) and Esme Gastfield join Broadwater and Britton as the team’s four seniors. The Falcons have tourneys at Apple Valley, Burnsville (Class A Showcase, 9/22 and 9/23), and Chaska. They have non-con affairs at Hayfield (season-opener 8/24) and at Z-M while hosting John Marshall and Stewartville. Key TRC dates with Chatfield (9/12) and Caledonia (10/17, season finale) are both at home.
Spring Grove (12-2, 28-5) comes off the most successful season in school history – a record 28 wins and first-ever state ranking. The Lions won two regular-season tourneys and reached the 1A semis for a second straight season and for the fourth time all-time. All five losses came against state-ranked squads, including Class A state champion Minneota and state third-place Mabel-Canton. With a 12-2 SEC record, the Grove girls were the East runner-up to M-C for the sixth time in the last seven years. In the classroom, SG earned the state coaches’ Academic Silver Award. Five of last year’s nine-player rotation retain eligibility for 2023, but three of the four All-SEC honorees picked up diplomas (Kenadee Gerard, Addyson McHugh, Maggie Lile). Two of the six-player serving rotation return. Despite that experience, there is only one senior, two-year letter winner Katelyn Kraus (5’10” MB > 64 kills, 26 blocks). The most-honored veteran is All-SEC setter Kendal VanMinsel (5’11” Jr.> 729 assists, 22 blocks, 90.8% serving with 35 aces). The attack will also feature letter winner Joelle Halverson (5’9” Jr. OH > 134 kills). Defensive duties, including libero, will feature Honorable Mention All-SEC Sydney Holland (5’5” Jr. > 139 digs, 89.9% serving, 42 aces) and freshman letter winner Izabel Kaufmann (5’5”> 135 digs, 90.2% serving). Stepping up will be Lions who went 13-1 during B-team action, notably promising hitters Emerson Ingvalson (5’7” Jr. OH) and Jordis Neeley (5’10” Jr. MB) along with Hailey Normann (5’10” So. RS/OPP) and Katie Klug (5’6” Jr. DS). Also available are Kylie Hammel (5’10” So. MB), Brinley Middendorf (5’9” Fr. MB) and Jada Strinmoen (5’7” Fr. setter). Graduation left big shoes to fill, but there is plenty of natural ability and athleticism plus understanding of the game. The girls need to gain confidence as they embark on expanded varsity roles. As always, preseason state-ranked #2 Mabel-Canton is the SEC East favorite. Three of the top 10 are from Section 1A, including #5 Bethlehem Academy and #7 Fillmore Central. In non-conference play, the Lions will defend their regular-season tournament titles at both Waukon and Goodhue and also return to the state Class A Showcase at Burnsville. They have M-C on the road (9/7) and then at home (10/3). Kelsey (Anderson) Morken returns for her ninth season as head coach at her alma mater.
Rushford-Peterson put forth a strong season last year. Nikki Schultz’s group went 5-5 in the TRC, but 21-8 overall. It was their best season since 2012 when they set a school record with 22 wins. The Trojans went 17-4 to end the year, falling to top-ranked Faribault B.A. 3-0 in the 1A quarters in Rochester. But R-P lost a quite a bit, an eight-gal senior class. They had three All-TRC players and two graduated. Three-time All-league pick Kaylee Ruberg (5’10” OH) and two-time All-league pick Isabelle Kahoun (5’6” setter) were multi-year stand-outs. Ruberg had 282 kills and 164 digs last year (despite missing time to injury). For her career, she had 937 kills. Kahoun had 575 assists, 136 digs, 56 kills, and 29 aces last year. She finished her career with 1,719 assists. Also graduating was All-TRC HM pick, versatile Hannah Ronnenberg (5’7” OH > 137 kills, 179 digs, 36 aces). New coach Jenny Hill takes over the program. She inherits two returning honored players in All-TRC selection Tayler Helgemoe (5’10” Sr. MH > 142 kills, 44 ½ ace blocks) and All-TRC HM pick Torryn Schneider (5’5” So. Libero > team-best 206 digs, 50 kills, 40 aces). Lindsey Hoiness (5’6” Jr. DS > 176 digs, 33 aces) is a third returning regular. Josie Brown, Rebecca Magin, Kallie Eide, Ava Drazkowski, Aubrey Ingvalson, and exchange student Gabriela Gimenez join with Helgemoe as the team’s seven seniors. The Trojans will have many new parts including a new setter and top hitter (for Kahoun and Ruberg). R-P has tourneys at Lake City, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Goodhue. They have home non-conference games with Medford (season-opener 8/24), Lanesboro, and Southland. Their sole road non-conference match is at Houston (10/3). They are notably at Fillmore Central (8/31) and Caledonia (9/21) while hosting Chatfield (10/9).
Winning their seventh straight SEC-West crown a year ago were the Grand Meadow Superlarks. In their first year under new coach Matt Rosaaen (a Spring Grove graduate), GM went 11-3 in the SEC, losing only to East foes M-C, Spring Grove, and Lanesboro. The Larks bowed out in the first round of the 1A play-offs, falling to Alden-Conger 3-0. They finished the year 17-12-2. GM had a good senior group a year ago, one headlined by All-SEC picks Kendyl Queensland (6’0” OH > team-best 205 kills, 274 digs) and Isabelle Fretty (5’5” setter > 586 assists, 264 digs, 63 kills) plus All-SEC HM selection Sydney Cotten (5’6” libero > team-high 366 digs). All told, seven girls graduated. Six played in at least 64 sets. GM’s top returnee this year is two-time All-SEC pick, Lauren Queensland (5’11” Jr. OH > 197 kills, 283 digs, 98.7% serving). Lexy Foster (5’11” Sr. MH > 135 kills, 27 aces, team-best 52 total blocks) is a second full-time returnee while Haylie Paul (5’11” Jr. MH/RH) also played quite a bit. They are the only girls to play in every varsity match a season ago. Hailey Lovejoy (5’6” OH/MH) joins Foster as the team’s only two seniors. They have five juniors, but then underclassmen. The Larks lost a quite a bit, including their setter and libero, and will need to rely a good deal on youth to keep their SEC-West league-title streak alive. They have tourneys at Pine Island, WEM, and Apple Valley. All their other games are pure SEC contests. They open at Mabel-Canton (8/24) and at Kingsland (8/31). Games with LeRoy-Ostrander are on September 14 (away) and October 10 (home). GM goes to SG (9/12) and finishes at home with Lanesboro (10/16).
The LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals put together a winning-SEC campaign a year ago. L-O went 8-6 in league play and 11-18 overall. They fell to Kenyon-Wanamingo 3-0 in the 1A Round of 16. Head coach Lindsay Milks had just one senior, but she was a good one. Jordan Runde (5’9” OH) grabbed her second All-SEC nod after leading the Cardinals in kills (270) and digs (279) plus notching a good ace total (51) last year. But L-O returns its two other All-SEC selections in Benita Nolt (5’11” Jr. MH) and Jenna Olson (5’6” Sr. setter) plus its All-SEC HM pick in Brooke Jasper (5’8” Jr. RH). Nolt was the team’s second leading hitter (220 kills) and defender (256 digs) while adding 48 aces and a team-best 58 total blocks. Olson amassed 597 assists and 146 digs. Jasper had over 100 kills and 100 digs plus 45-plus aces. Additionally, Maddi Huntley (5’5” Sr. libero > 200-plus digs) also played in 80-plus sets while Kaci McKenzie (5’8” Jr. MH > 50-plus kills) was also a rotational regular. Olson, Huntley, and Laney Huff (RH) are the team’s three seniors. They also have three juniors (Nolt, Jasper, McKenzie). With Runde the biggest exception, L-O last year is pretty much L-O this year. They will look to get above five-hundred overall. The Cardinals have tourneys in Hayfield, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Goodhue. The rest of the schedule is all SEC games. They open at Lanesboro (8/24) then host Mabel-Canton (8/28). Games with Southland are August 31 (home) and to be determined while matches with Grand Meadow are September 14 (home) and October 10 (road).
Lanesboro enters this season coming off a solid campaign. The Burros went 10-4 in the SEC, only losing to Mabel-Canton and Spring Grove (each twice). They fell to Hayfield in the 1A Round of 16 and ended the season at 15-13-1. But the era of twin tower hitters Kaci Ruen and Jessie Schreiber ended. The duo was each thrice All-SEC, making the Burros a tough out over their careers. Ruen had a team-best 298 kills last year plus 214 digs, 49 aces, and 57 total blocks. She finished with 1,010 career kills. Schreiber had 189 kills, 118 digs, and a 39 total blocks. They were two of four notable graduations. Second year coach Frankie Kohn’s top returning player is All-SEC HM pick Jensyn Storhoff (5’6” So. setter/OH > 81 kills, 188 assists, team-best 274 digs). Ellie Anderson (5’9” Sr. MH > 55 kills, 90 digs), Ellie Howard (5’3” So. Libero > 210 digs), and Claire Keasling (5’5” Sr. setter > 368 assists, 122 digs) are three more full-time holdovers while Sari Rein (5’7” So. MH) and Julia Keasling (5’5” Sr. OH) also played some last year. The Keaslings, Anderson, and McKayla Olevson (MH) are the teams’ four seniors. With near 500 kills to make up for (Ruen and Schreiber), new faces will have to lead the Burros if they want to post a fifth straight winning season. Lanesboro has the W-K and Southland tourneys. All their other games are SEC contests, save playing at R-P (9/26). They open by hosting LeRoy-Ostrander (8/24). They end the season at Mabel-Canton (10/9), hosting Spring Grove (10/12), and then playing at Grand Meadow (10/16) in an SEC gauntlet.
Hoping to improve upon their 2022-win total are the Kingsland Knights. Team double-K went 5-9 in the SEC, and 11-15 overall. They fell to Southland 3-1 in a 1A play-in contest. Contrasting the start of 2022 when the Knights were nearly a hockey line-change of athletes, this year’s group has some continuity. The Knights had four seniors in 2022 and only one played regularly. Said player was Kingsland’s sole All-SEC pick, Anika Reiland (5’5” OH). She led the team in kills (183) and digs (322) while finishing with 41 aces. Kingsland’s All-SEC HM pick, Chantle Reiland (5’5” Jr. MH > 71 kills, 162 digs, team-best 58 aces), is not out for volleyball, a second subtraction. But Kadence Aarsvold (Sr. libero/DS > 231 digs), Macie Rasmussen (Jr. setter > 39 kills, 223 assists, 143 digs), Morgan Phillips (5’6” Sr. OH > 66 kills, 95 digs, 31 aces), Kaylin Mensink (5’6” Sr. DS > 60 assists, 191 digs), and Vaira Merkel (Jr. MH > 53 kills, 62 digs, 34 aces) give the Knights five key returnees. A-Reiland was the only key holdover entering last season. Aarsvold, Phillips, Mensink, Kaydynse Fay (MH), Ashlyn Harwood (RH), McKayla Stankey (OH), and Haley Vreeman (MH) give Coach Amanda Siskow a seven-girl senior class. Kingsland has tourneys at Decorah, Southland, and Riceville. All their other games are of the SEC variety. The open by hosting Lanesboro (8/29) and then Grand Meadow (8/31). The second match-up with GM on the road is yet to be determined. Matches with LeRoy-Ostrander are September 7 (away) and October 3 (home).
The Houston Hurricanes will also look to add to their 2022-win total. Team double-H went 7-7 in the SEC and 8-16 overall last year. They fell to Spring Grove 3-0 in the 1A Round of 16. The ‘Canes start the year with a new coach, as Hailyn Kittleson takes over for Vanessa (Lee) Erdmann. Houston graduated its only All-SEC pick last year, multi-year player Sydney Torgerson (5’10” MH). She was the team’s leader in kills (215), digs (206), aces (31), and total blocks (33). The Hurricanes also notably graduated their setter Lilly Carr (5’7” > 379 assists, team-second best 197 digs, 42 kills). Six total seniors moved on. The team’s sole honored returnee is Jaden Woodard (5’8” Jr. OH > 100 kills, 184 digs), an All-SEC HM pick. Four other girls return that played in at least 45 sets. All of whom were underclassmen a season ago; Emily Botcher (5’10” Jr. OH > 73 kills, 176 digs), Ellasyn Carrier (5’4” Jr. RH/DS > 189 digs), Avery Kingsley (5’6” So. MH > 56 kills, 95 digs), and Jorja Meyer (5’10” So. MH > 48 kills). Houston has just two seniors in Violet Srock (RH/DS) and Arah Paulson (DS). The Hurricanes will be young but have some experience. They have tourneys at Cotter, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Goodhue. Another non-con tilt is at R-P (10/3). The rest of their games are in the SEC including opening at home with Lyle/Pacelli (8/28) then trekking to Glenville-Emmons (8/29). They then are at Spring Grove (8/31) while hosting the Lions later in the year (9/26).
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