Spring Grove closed out the home volleyball schedule with a 3-1 payback win over Randolph on November 18 and then finished the virus-shortened season with a November 19 road triumph at Houston. The 2020 season that started late also ended early, due to public health concerns. Late-season scheduled matches with Grand Meadow and Lanesboro were among many area athletic events canceled.
The Lions finished with an 8-4 season record and 5-4 in the Southeast Conference race, in which they tied for third place with Randolph (7-5, 5-4 SEC) among six squads in the East Division. Houston closed at 3-10 (2-8 SEC).
It was the Lions’ sixth consecutive season with a winning record. Considering two break-even campaigns, it was the 12th straight season at .500 or better.
SG 3, Randolph 1 (25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15)
The Lions earned a season split while prevailing in this battle for third place. Spring Grove both served better (92% to 87%) and attacked better at the net (17% efficiency to 12%). The Rocket attack, anemic during the first two sets, became suddenly stronger while the visitors were winning the third set, 25-21. Spring Grove hitting was far more consistent with double-digit kills in each set.
The Lions led during most of the first set and throughout set two, taking both by 25-18 scores. But in set three, Randolph broke a 12-12 tie by sweeping the next six points with four kills and would win by four, 25-21. The Rocket attack stalled in set four while Spring Grove continued to hit effectively.
Maggie Lile throttled Rocket hitters with 33 digs. Addyson McHugh scored with 17 kills and 5 blocks at the net plus two aces from the service line. Brielle Neely had 2 scoring blocks and was the most efficient hitter with 9 kills and no errors (43% efficiency). Lydia Solum (38%) added 8 kills, and Rachel Norman scored 8 points (4 kills, 4 ace serves) while airing up 41 set assists.
All six Spring Grove servers recorded an ace. Julia Halverson served 95% (20 for 21) with 3 aces while Paige Jahnke had 94% success (16 for 17) with 2 aces.
The Rockets had won 3-2 in the first meeting this season, the Lions’ lone five-set match. With Randolph exiting the conference next school year, it may be the end of the series which the Lions lead 6 wins to 2.
The Spring Grove B-team posted a second 2-1 win versus Randolph while the Lion freshmen won 2-0.
Match Totals
Earned Points: SG 71 (51K, 8B, 12A); Ran 46 (30K, 6B, 10A)
Total Errors: SG 34, Ran 31
Attacks: SG 159, Ran 121
Kills/Errors: SG 51/24, Ran 30/16
Hitting Efficiency: SG 17%, Ran 12%
Ace Blocks: SG 8, Ran 6
Serving: SG 92% (87-95;’ Ran 87% (67-77)
Aces/Errors: SG 12/8, Ran 10/10
Digs: SG 74, Ran 81
>>Lion INDIVIDUALS
Digs 74: Maggie Lile 33, Julia Halverson 10, Rachel Normann 10, Paige Jahnke 8, VaNessa Peterson 8, Brielle Neeley 1, Kenadee Gerard 2, Lydia Solum 2
Set Assists 48: Rachel Normann 41, Maggie Lile 4, Paige Jahnke 1, Addyson McHugh 1, Julia Halverson 1
Kills 51: Addyson McHugh 17, Brielle Neeley 9, Lydia Solum 8, Kenadee Gerard 6, Julia Halverson 5, Rachel Normann 4, Kelsey Bratland 1, Maggie Lile 1
Hitting efficiency (K-E/att) LEADERS 17%: Brielle Neeley 43% (9-0/21); Lydia Solum 38% (8-2/16); Rachel Normann 27% (4-0/15); Addyson McHugh 11% (17-12/46); Maggie Lile 10% (1-0/10)
Ace Blocks 8: Addyson McHugh 5, Brielle Neeley 2, Kenadee Gerard 1
Service Aces 12: Rachel Normann 4; Julia Halverson 3, Paige Jahnke 2=, Addyson McHugh 2, VaNessa Peterson 1
Serving 92%: Julia Halverson 95% (20-21); Paige Jahnke 94% (16-17); Addyson McHugh 93% (13-14)_ Maggie Lile 92% (12-13); VaNessa Peterson 92% (11-12); Rachel Normann 83% (15-18)
SG 3, Houston 0 (25-18, 26-214, 25-14)
The Grove girls outscored Houston overall, 76-56, but they had to go to extra points to take set two, 26-24. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, their most effective play in set two coincided with the Lions’ best production as well. During that exciting second set, the Lions rallied from a 19-11 deficit to pull even at 22 with an ace served by Paige Jahnke. Spring Grove had to earn it as only one Hurricane error figured into that 8-to-3 Lion resurgence.
It was a team finish with kills from three different Lions (McHugh, Kenadee Gerard, Neeley) before it ended with a VaNessa Peterson ace serve.
After the disappointment of losing that lead in set two, the ‘Canes did not fold on the way to an 11-10 lead in set three. But the Lions gained control of that set and put the match away with an impressive 11-point run, ignited by two aces served by Halverson. Two kills each from McHugh and Gerard plus one from Normann and a block from McHugh helped make it 22-11.
Lile again spearheaded the defense with 22 digs, which helped limit the Hurricanes to only 17 kills and 6% hitting efficiency.
Lion hitting efficiency was only 11%, but serving was more reliable at 93% accuracy and three times as many aces (15) as misfires (5). Houston served 83% with 7 aces and 10 errant serves.
Gerard was the most efficient hitter at 30% (9 kills, 2 errors). McHugh added another 9 kills along with 3 scoring blocks and 3 ace serves. Halverson (20 for 20, 2 aces), Lile (11 for 11, 2 aces) and Kelsey Bratland (2 for 2) each served 100%.
For Houston, Emma Geiwitz paced the attack with 7 kills while defending with 15 digs. Becca Rostad was the dig leader with 19 while Lilly Carr had an all-around performance with 12 assists, 3 kills and 12 digs. Sydney Torgerson contributed 3 kills and 11 digs.
The Lions’ season sweep of Houston made it 15 straight wins in the series Spring Grove now dominates 92 wins to 16. The Lion B-team also completed a season sweep, but it was not easy, 25-23 and 25-23. There was no freshman match.
Match Totals
Earned Points: SG 47 (29K, 3B, 15A); Hou 27 (17K, 3B, 7A)
Total Errors: SG 32, Hou 30
Attacks: SG 113, Hou 97
Kills/Errors: SG 29/17, Hou 17/11
Hitting Efficiency: SG 11%, Hou 6%
Ace Blocks: SG 3, Hou 3
Serving: SG 93% (69-74); Hou 83% (48-58)
Aces/Errors: SG 15/5, Hou 7/10
Digs: SG 57, Hou 58
Lion INDIVIDUALS
Digs 57: Maggie Lile 22, Rachel Normann 11, VaNessa Peterson 8, Kenadee Gerard 5, Julia Halverson 5, Lydia Solum 2, Paige Jahnke 2, Kelsey Bratland 1, Addyson McHugh 1
Set Assists 28: Rachel Normann 22, Maggie Lile 3, Kelsey Bratland 1, Paige Jahnke 1, Julia Halverson 1
Kills 29: Addyson McHugh 9, Kenadee Gerard 9, Brielle Neeley 3, Lydia Solum 3, Rachel Normann 2, VaNessa Peterson 1, Julia Halverson 1, Maggie Lile 1
Hitting efficiency (K-E/att) Leaders: Kenadee Gerard 30% (9-2/23; VaNessa Peterson 25% (1-0/4); Maggie Lile 14% (1-0/7); Rachel Normann 13% (2-1/8)
Ace Blocks 3: Addyson McHugh 3
Service Aces 15: VaNessa Peterson 3, Addyson McHugh 3, Rachel Normann 3, Paige Jahnke 2, Julia Halverson 2, Maggie Lile 2
Serving Julia Halverson 100% (20-20); Maggie Lile 100% (11-11); Kelsey Bratland 100% (2-2); Paige Jahnke 93% (13-14); VaNessa Peterson 88% (7-8); Addyson McHugh 85% (11-13); Rachel Norman 83% (5-6)