The Class A Showcase brings together some of the best small school volleyball teams in the state for a two-day tourney. Lonnie Morken’s M-C Cougars are a perennial entrant. This year marked their seventh straight inclusion in the event. Despite heading to Burnsville with likely their shortest team of the seven years, M-C trekked home standing a little taller. On Friday night, in pool play, the Cougars beat Underwood (25-16, 25-8) and Stephen-Argyle Central (25-14, 25-20). Saturday morning they fell to #2 in Class A Minneota (14-25, 12-25). The 2-1 record put M-C in the second-tiered “Silver” bracket. There they beat #4 in Class A New Life Academy (22-25, 25-18, 15-10) and then Kittson County Central (25-19, 25-16). The Coug’s took home the Silver title (5th place), going 4-1; their best Showcase record the past seven years. In 2012 and 2013, they went 4-2 and took fourth. Minneota took home the Gold title. Records of M-C’s foes (post-tourney) are; Minneota (17-1), Kittson County (16-5), New Life (11-6), Stephen-Argyle (12-6), Underwood (8-8). Section 1A teams W-K (11-4) and L-A (10-6) also competed, each going 2-3 overall. Cougar tournament leaders were Lexi Thorson (20 kills, 15 aces, 46 digs), Kenidi McCabe (9 kills, 39 digs, 114 assists), Payton Danielson (31 kills, 39 digs, 36-36 serving), Maddy Michels (33 kills), Hannah Snell (46 digs, 39-40 serving), Sarina Stortz (20 kills), Jordyn Newgard (20 kills), and Lauren Wyffels (23 digs). Michels hit .446, making the All-Tourney team. Thorson had a seven-ace game (Underwood), a six-ace game (NLA), and a 16-dig match (Stephen-Argyle). McCabe had 33 assists and 16 digs (N.L.A.). Ten of Stortz’s 20 kills came versus New Life. M-C also beat Houston a few days earlier in SEC action (25-17, 25-9, 25-16). Michels (8 kills), Thorson (7 kills, 11 digs), Snell (20-20 serving, 3 aces), Danielson (11 digs, 3 aces), Wyffels (10 digs), and McCabe (4 kills, 9 digs, 22 assists) did the big work. Houston was led by Ariel Scanlan (8 assists, 7 digs), Alyssa Rostad (14 digs), and Jenny Albrecht (6 kills). The Cougars (8-0, 18-2) are fast approaching 20 wins while still in September. They lead Spring Grove (7-1, 18-2) in the SEC-East.
M-C VB “Silver” Champions at Showcase
