Spring Grove extended a string of highly-successful volleyball seasons in 2023 with a 22-7 record, the Lions’ third consecutive 20-plus win season under the tutelage of former Spring Grove standout Kelsey (Anderson) Morken. Not counting the shortened COVID season of 2020, the wins over the most recent seasons have been 22, 28, 20, 19, 26 and 22.
Photo by Lee Epps
Going 12-2 in Southeast Conference play for a third straight year, the Lions finished as East Division runners-up for a third straight campaign and for the seventh time in the last nine seasons. With 3-0 wins over both West Division co-champions Grand Meadow and LeRoy-Ostrander, Spring Grove was clearly one of the top two teams in the SEC.
Out of 20 teams in Section 1A and for the third straight season, the Lions received the No. 4 section playoff seed – this year behind a trio of state-ranked teams – state-ranked No. 2 Mabel-Canton, No. 5 Kenyon-Wanamingo and No. 7 Fillmore Central. Grove hosted and swept all three sets in the playoff opener against No. 13 seed Southland. The season then ended with a 3-2 loss to No. 5 seed Alden-Conger in the quarterfinals (final eight) at Rochester. It was the second tight fit with the Knights after the teams split a pair of sets during a regular-season Tournament. The Lions had won that one with more total points.
Five of the seven setbacks came against state-ranked competition. In addition to the two competitive league losses to Mabel-Canton, there was a loss to No. 1 Class A Minneota, No. 5 Class A Kenyon-Wanamingo and No. 2 Class AA Chatfield.
There were few overall nail-biters. Among 29 matches, 24 were decided in straight sets. The Lions lost both matches that went to five sets, both with very close fifth sets (16-14 versus A-C and 15-13 versus M-C). They took one set in the other loss to Mabel-Canton and the loss to Kenyon-Wanamingo (2-1). Overall, the Lions won 62 sets while dropping 18.
Due to a lack of officials, the Spring Grove girls were unable to defend their championship at the Waukon Tournament. There was no overall champion this season, but the Lions swept all three pool-play matches in straight sets.
Compared to the previous record-breaking 28-5 season, this year’s Lions had a slightly lower 21% hitting efficiency (22% last year). Serving percentage dropped from 93% to 89%, but the aces served per set improved to 3.6 from last year’s 3.3.
Success was achieved by a relatively young lineup. Three-time letter-winning senior Katelyn Kraus was a major contributor, and all of her varsity teammates retain eligibility for 2024. Younger Lion netters enjoyed exceptional success as well with the B-team going undefeated at 18-0 and the C-team at 10-1-2.
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