After a 20-win season a year ago (20-10, 12-2 SEC), the Spring Grove volleyball team enters the 2022 campaign at No. 7 in the state coaches association Class A preseason poll, believed to be the program’s first state ranking. The Lions return five of their top nine performers and four of the six servers from a team that won two playoff matches to reach the Section 1A semi-finals for the third time in program history.
Three of last year’s varsity losses came versus state-ranked Class A teams; the other seven all came against larger Class AA competition and Iowa Class 3A Waukon. The SEC East Division championship came down to a five-set showdown with Mabel-Canton. Spring Grove was division runner-up for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
All three all-conference honorees are back along with an honorable mention, all seniors, who provide plenty of height and front row production plus libero Maggie Lile, one of the area’s premier defenders with 448 digs last fall while surpassing 1,000 career digs. Outside hitter Addyson McHugh (5-foot-10) has already been All-SEC three times while Lile is a two-time all-league selection and Lion MVP last year. Outside hitter Kenadee Gerard (5-10) is another all-conference veteran while hitter Lydia Solum (5-9) received honorable mention. Another returning front-row starter is the lone Lion junior Katelyn Kraus (5-10).
McHugh led the Lions in service aces with 60 and was second on the team with 248 kills while adding a team second-best 232 digs and serving 97%. Gerard led the team with 260 kills while defending with 137 digs and serving over 93%. Solum contributed 116 kills and 32 total blocks while serving 93%.
Graduation did claim three-year starting setter Rachel Normann, who had 523 set assists on the way to a 1,000-plus assist career. However, sophomore Kendal VanMinsel (5-11) was also impressive with 109 set assists during limited varsity action.
Rounding out a seven-player senior class are middle hitter Peyton Thompson (5-10), defender Madilyn Ostern (5-7), and opposite (formerly known as right side) Kylie Reynolds (5-6). Younger candidates include four sophomores: defender Sydney Holland plus hitters Jordis Neeley (5-10), Joelle Halverson (5-9) and Emerson Ingvalson (5-7). Eighth grade defender Izabel Kaufmann is also on the 14-Lion varsity roster.
The B-team and C-team lineups include a few on the varsity roster plus junior Lillian Hundorf, sophomore Katie Klug and freshmen Kylie Hammel, Madison Lile, Hailey Normann, Addison Halverson, Ellevia Berns, Addison Kessler, Reagan Storlie, Callie Petersen, Carlie Halverson and Savannah Holty along with eighth graders Jada Strinmoen and Brinley Middendorf.
All of the coaches are former Lion players. Kelsey (Anderson) Morken leads the program for the eighth season with a career .681 winning percentage. Taylor Elton guides the B-team and C-team for the fourth year after a previous season as junior high coach. Lauren Arneson returns to mentor the junior high girls, joined this year by Harlee Gavin.
With six Lions at 5-10 or taller, there is not only proven production but also plenty of height near the net. Anchoring the back row is a 1,000-plus dig defender. A young setter appears ready to step into the varsity spotlight. There will be two new servers in the six-server rotation.
It should not be overlooked that in addition to a 20-win varsity campaign, last year’s B-team went 15-2 (12-1 SEC) and the C-team 10-1 (8-0).
Spring Grove and 24-time defending SEC East Division champion Mabel-Canton are the only conference teams to return as many as three All-SEC players. Lanesboro brings back two all-league honorees and LeRoy-Ostrander one. The preseason Class A state poll includes last year’s four Section 1A semi-finalists: No. 3 Bethlehem Academy, No. 5 Mabel-Canton, No. 6 Kenyon-Wanamingo and No. 7 Spring Grove.
The Lions open at Southland (7-16, 5-9 SEC) on Aug.25, the first of the 14-match conference schedule. The only non-conference action takes place at three weekend tournaments, including the prestigious Class A Showcase at Burnsville.
————————————————-
Lion volleyball the Last 7 seasons
2021 20-10 (12-2 SEC, 2nd East)
2020 8-4 (5-4 SEC, 3rd tie East)
2019 19-10 (10-4, 2nd tie East)
2018 27-4 (12-2, 2nd East)
2017 22-7 (11-2 SEC, 2nd East)
2016 17-12 (10-4 SEC, 2nd East)
2015 15-13 (9-5 SEC, 3rd East)
total 128-60 (.681)
—————————————–
Spring Grove Volleyball 2022
08/25 at Southland
08/30 …..Lyle/Pacelli
09/06 at Schaeffer Academy
09/08 at Lanesboro
09/13 …..Houston
09/15 at Glenville-Emmons
09/17 at Waukon Tournament
09/20 …..Mabel-Canton
09/22 …..Grand Meadow
09/23 at Burnsville Class A Showcase
09/29 …..Schaeffer Academy
10/03 …..Lanesboro
10/06 at Kingsland
10/11 at Houston
10/13 at Mabel-Canton
10/15 at Goodhue Tournament
10/17 …..LeRoy-Ostrander
Leave a Reply