Spring Grove opened the 2023 volleyball season with a pair of straight-set, 3-0 conference wins – a lackluster road win at Adams versus Southland, followed by a more satisfactory performance at home versus Houston. The Hurricanes (2-1, 2-1 SEC) slipped out of the league lead while the Lions share the SEC East lead at 2-0 (2-0 SEC). Neither team attacked efficiently at Adams, but Spring Grove displayed far better hitting rhythm at home against Houston. Neither Lion opponent was able to attack with as many kills as errors.
Photo by Lee Epps
SG 3, Southland 0 (25-22, 25-5, 25-17)
Sydney Holland served the first 13 points in set two, including four aces, and then Jordis Neeley served six straight points (2 aces) for a 19-1 lead as the Lions took complete control of the match. The error-filled first set had been competitive with Spring Grove surviving with five more kills. The Lions were able to limit errors in set two. The Rebels were never able to survive their attacking errors and fell out of contention after leading 9-4 in set one. Southland finished with 31 hitting errors and only 13 kills. Most (7) of those 13 kills came during the last set. The Lions hit well enough to win (9% efficiency) with 27 kills and 19 errors. Joelle Halverson had a match-high 8 kills, but Neeley (6 kills) was the most efficient (56%). Kendal VanMinsel assisted on 18 kills and scored with 5 kills on only 10 attacks (50% efficiency). Holland defended with 10 digs, VanMinsel with 7. Both teams served well – Southland 95% (4 aces), SG 92% (9 aces). The Lions have won all three matches since the Rebels rejoined the SEC. The Lion B-team and C-team both posted 2-0 wins while The Rebels won both junior high matches.
SG 3, Houston 0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-13)
Spring Grove servers poured in 23 aces with only four errors (94.5%) and attacked with a much improved 27% efficiency. The Hurricanes matched the serving percentage (94.4%) while serving five aces with two misfires. Total errors were also nearly the same (SG 19, Houston 18), but the Lions were never in danger with the flood of service aces and a huge 34-to-9 advantage in kills.
VanMinsel scored with seven kills while assisting on 16 others and serving four aces. Freshman setter Jada Strinmoen came in to furnish six set assists. Neeley led scoring with a match-best seven service aces and six kills. Hailey Normann was extremely efficient at the net (54%) with a match-high eight kills with only one error on only 13 attacks. Holland served three aces and defended with a team-high seven digs. Halverson contributed four kills, two scoring blocks and two ace serves.
The Lions took control in set one with an 11-1 early run for a 13-4 lead. Neeley started SG scoring in set two with a kill followed by three straight ace serves. It would be 19-7 after Katie Klug served 10 straight points, including three aces on the way to a 16-point decision (25-9). In set three, Spring Grove took a 6-1 lead and would win by a dozen (25-13).
It was the Lions’ 22nd consecutive victory against the Hurricanes and an evening sweep as Spring Grove also took both the B-team and C-team matches as well as both junior high decisions, all by 2-0 scores.
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Match Totals vs. Southland
Earned Points: SG 39 (27K, 3B, 9A), Sou 19 (13K, 2B, 4A)
Total Errors: SG 27, Sou 39
Attacks: SG 90, Sou 96
Kills/Errors: SG 27/19, Sou
Hitting Efficiency: SG 9%, Sou 0%
Ace Blocks: SG 3, Sou 2
Serving: SG 92% (67-73), Sou 96% (44-46)
Aces/Errors: SG 9/6, Sou 4/2
Digs: SG 39, Sou 37
Lion INDIVIDUALS – Digs 39: Sydney Holland 10, Kendal VanMinsel 7, Jordis Neeley 6, Izabel Kaufmann 5, Katelyn Kraus 4, Hailey Normann 3, Joelle Halverson 3, Emerson Ingvalson 1. Set Assists 25: Kendal VanMinsel 18, Sydney Holland 3, Katelyn Kraus 1, Hailey Normann 1, Izabel Kaufmann 1, Joelle Halverson 1. Kills 27: Joelle Halverson 8, Jordis Neeley 6,, Kendal VanMinsel 5, Hailey Normann 4, Emerson Ingvalson 3, Katelyn Kraus 1. Hitting efficiency (K-E/att) Leaders: Jordis Neeley 56% (6-3/16); Kendal VanMinsel 50% (5-0/10); Joelle Halverson 4% (8-7/23). Ace Blocks 3: Joelle Halverson 1.5, Jordis Neeley 1.0, Katelyn Kraus 0.5
Service Aces 9: Sydney Holland 4, Jordis Neeley 3, Izabel Kaufmann 1, Joelle Halverson 1. Serving 92% (67-73): Kendal VanMinsel 100% (10-10); Katelyn Kraus 100% (3-3); Sydney Holland 95% (18-19) ; Joelle Halverson 95% (18-19); Jordis Neeley 86% (12-14); Izabel Kaufmann 86% (6-7); Katie Klug 0% (0-1)
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Match Totals vs. Houston
Earned Points: SG 59 (34K, 2B, 23A). Hou 15 (9K, 1B, 5A)
Total Errors: SG 19, Hou 18
Attacks: SG 73, Hou 40
Kills/Errors: SG 34/14, Hou 9/10
Hitting Efficiency: SG 27%, Hou 0%
Ace Blocks: SG 2, Hou 1
Serving: SG 94.5% (69-73); Hou 94.4% (34-36)
Aces/Errors: SG 23/4, Hou 5/2
Digs: SG 19, Hou 18
Lion INDIVIDUALS. Digs19: Sydney Holland 7Jordis Neeley 4, Kendal VanMinsel 3, Katie Klug 2, Izabel Kaufmann 1, Joelle Halverson 1, Jada Strinmoen 1. Set Assists 29: Kendal VanMinsel 16, Izabel Kaufmann 2, Sydney Holland 4, Joelle Halverson 1, Jada Strinmoen. Kills 34: Kendal VanMinsel 7, Hailey Normann 8, Jordis Neeley 6, Emerson Ingvalson 4, Joelle Halverson 4, Kylie Hammel 2, Katelyn Kraus 1, Katie Klug 1, Brinley Middendorf 1. Hitting efficiency (K-E/att) Leaders: Katie Klug 100% (1-0/Kylie Hammel 67% (2-0/3); Hailey Normann 54% (8-1/13); Kendal VanMinsel 42% (7-2/12);; Jordis Neeley 40% (6-2/10); Joelle Halverson 13% (4-2/16); Emerson Ingvalson 11% (4-3/9). Ace Blocks: Joelle Halverson 2. Service Aces 23: Jordis Neeley 7, Katie Klug 4, Kendal VanMinsel 4, Sydney Holland 3, Joelle Halverson 2, Katelyn Kraus 1, Brinley Middendorf 1, Jada Strinmoen 1. Serving: Sydney Holland 100% (12-12); Jada Strinmoen 100% (7-7); Joelle Halverson 100% (5-5); Katelyn Kraus 100% (2-2); Kylie Hammel 100% (1-1); Brinley Middendorf 100% (1-1); Jordis Neeley 93% (14-15); Kendal VanMinsel 93% (13-14); Katie Klug 92% (12-13); Izabel Kaufmann 67% (2-3). Scoring 59: Jordis Neeley 13 (6K, 7A); Kendal VanMinsel 11 (7K, 4A); Joelle Halverson 8 (4K, 2A, 2B); Hailey Normann 8 (8K); Emerson Ingvalson 4 (4K); Katie Klug 5 (1K, 4A); Sydney Holland 3 (3A); Katelyn Kraus 2 (1K, 1A); Kylie Hammel 2 (2K); Brinley Middendorf 2 (1K, 1A); Jada Strinmoen 1 (1A)
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Spring Grove Varsity Volleyball
2-0 (2-0 SEC)
W at Southland 3-0
W vs. Houston 3-0
09-05 Schaeffer Academy
09-07 at Mabel-Canton
09-12 Grand Meadow
09-16 at Waukon Tournament
09-19 Lanesboro
09-21 at LeRoy-Ostrander
09-22 Class A Showcase at Burnsville
09-23 Class A Showcase at Burnsville
09-26 at Houston
09-28 at Schaeffer Academy
10-03 Mabel-Canton
10-05 Kingsland
10-09 Glenville-Emmons (6 p.m.)
10-12 at Lanesboro
10-14 at Goodhue Tournament
10-16 at Lyle/Pacelli
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