#3 Chatfield Runs TRC Table, Repeats as Champion
There is not much doubt. Chatfield volleyball is the best team in the Three Rivers Conference this year. Kristi Rindels’ Gophers won their final two league matches to go unblemished through the schedule. At home, they beat St. Charles 3-0 (25-9, 25-7, 25-21). Jaelyn LaPlante (10 kills, 5 digs, 16-16 serving, 5 aces) and Trindy Barkeim (10 kills) each got to double-digit kills. Harper Goldsmith had 7 (kills) and 12 (assists). Hannah Tweten (13 assists), Mya Henry (8 digs, 3 aces), and Kylin Schroeder (2 kills, 4 digs, 17-17 serving, 3 aces, 2 blocks) helped. With the win, Chatfield (9-0, 23-4) clinched the TRC title. The Gophers then shored up a perfect league season by sweeping La Crescent/Hokah 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-17). LaPlante led the team offensively (17 kills, 8 digs). Goldsmith (3 kills, 31 assists, 6 digs, 16-18 serving, 5 aces) stuffed the stat sheet. Barkeim (11 kills) and Cora Bicknese (6 kills, 13 digs) helped. It is the Gophers’ second straight TRC title all without a league loss (20-0). Chatfield boasts a 30-1 set record versus other league teams this season. The Gophers (10-0, 24-4) nearest foes are Cotter (7-2, 14-3) and Fillmore Central (7-2, 11-11). Chatfield also took out Randolph 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14) in non-conference action. The Gophers got some of their best offensive balance of the year. LaPlante (13 kills, 6 digs), Barkeim (12 kills, 6 digs, 4 aces), Goldsmith (7 kills, 20 assists, 4 digs, 14-15 serving, 3 aces), K-Schroeder (6 kills), and Grace Schroeder (5 kills) all cleared five kills. Tweten added 17 assists and 4 aces on 16-16 serving. Bicknese had a team-best 14 digs. The Gophers will almost certainly be Section 1AA’s top seed in the play-offs.
Larks Clinch Share of SEC-West Title
Grand Meadow (8-3, 11-9) entered the last full week of the season sitting one game up on Southland (7-4, 7-4) in the SEC-West. Two wins versus SEC foes clinched Matt Rosaaen’s Larks a share of the West title with one game to go. The first win was a rivalry victory over LeRoy-Ostrander (6-5, 9-10). Lindsay Milks’ Cardinals beat the Superlarks in Grand Meadow earlier this year, 3-1. And L-O was again up to the task in the first set, riding Benita Nolt’s 6 kills to a 25-21 win. But GM controlled the next three games to post the 3-1 win (21-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-11). Powerful junior hitter Gracie Foster had a huge game three (7 kills, 8 digs), a nice match (13 kills, 20 digs, 3 aces). Hallie Hendrickson (30 assists, 4 aces) set the table. Lauren Queensland (6 kills, 12 digs), Cheyenne Bakken (16 digs), Haylie Paul (10 kills, 19-19 serving, 3 aces, 3 blocks), and Rylee Schaufler (6 kills) also did work. L-O was led by Nolt (10 kills, 6 digs), Maria Almaraz-Nolt (8 kills, 7 digs), Meah Stevens (26 assists, 11 digs), and Brooke Jasper (5 kills, 15 digs). Miranda Nagel (6 kills) and Addie Harn (10 digs) helped. GM racked up 15 aces to L-O’s five. GM also hit .127 while L-O hit just .043. Lyle/Pacelli then gave the Larks a couple tough sets but GM still won by sweep (25-14, 26-24, 25-21). Queensland had team highs in both kills and digs with 10 each. Paul (9 kills), Kendall Jack (7 kills), Foster (4 kills, 8 digs), and Schaufler (4 kills, 6 digs) helped hitting-wise. Hendrickson went for 4 kills, 26 assists, 5 digs, and 3 aces (on 18-19 serving). Bakken added nine digs. GM also took on the Apple Valley Tourney (See “Non-Conference Volleyball”). The Larks (10-3, 14-12) lead Southland (9-4, 11-8) in the West. GM has a match with Lanesboro (9-4, 17-12) left. The Rebels’ final league match is at M-C (29-2). Team Super, even with a loss, looks primed to win the title outright given the Cougars’ SEC superiority.
#4 M-C Grabs Another SEC-East Title
Mabel-Canton entered the last full week of the regular season having already hurdled its toughest obstacles to the SEC-East title, beating Spring Grove twice. Lonnie Morken’s Cougars followed that up with wins over Lanesboro and Houston. Class A fourth-ranked M-C (11-0, 27-2) at the Burros (9-2, 16-6) was a matchup of the first and third place teams in the division with SG (10-2, 16-6) in second, but it was all Cougars in a 3-0 sweep (25-11, 25-15, 25-12). The win clinched M-C a share of the East title. Kinley Soiney had 14 kills, 4 aces, and 4 total blocks, Sahara Morken 35 assists and 10 digs to lead the way. But it was a team effort as Saijal Slafter (8 kills, 4 digs, 14-14 serving, 3 aces), Lydia Vatland (12 digs), Kailey Ingvalson (6 kills, 5 digs), Tylar Wenthold (5 kills), and Ava Jacobsen (6 digs) also did work. Jensyn Storhoff (10 assists, 9 digs) and Ellie Howard (16 digs) led the Burros. Taylor Hanson chipped in three kills and three blocks. Versus the ‘Canes, M-C also posted a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-10, 25-13). Said win wrapped up the SEC-East outright title, their 27th in a row. Morken (3 kills, 35 assists, 10 digs, 13-13 serving, 6 aces), Slafter (9 kills, 8 digs, 15-15 serving, 4 aces), and Soiney (14 kills, 9 digs) did the biggest work, helped by Hope Erickson (5 kills, 5 digs, 5 aces), Wenthold (6 kills), and Jacobsen (10 digs, 3 aces). Ellasyn Carrier (14 digs), Olivia Yohe (4 assists, 8 digs), Emily Botcher (3 kills, 8 digs), Cadence Koehler (7 digs), and Jaden Woodard (5 digs) led a mostly defensive Hurricane effort. The #4 Cougars (13-0, 29-2) take the East over SG (11-2, 20-7) and Lanesboro (9-4, 17-12). M-C dropped just one set in league play and their two losses overall are to #1 Mayer Lutheran and #3 New Life Academy. Houston fell to 5-8 in the SEC, 8-15 overall.
Spring Grove Notches 20th Win, VanMinsel 2,000th Assist
Spring Grove (11-2, 20-7) claimed a 20th win for the fourth straight season with a 3-0 home victory over Lanesboro followed by taking three of four matches for a runner-up finish at the Goodhue Tournament. In the tourney championship match, Kendal VanMinsel became the first Lion netter to achieve 2,000 set assists. The win over the third-place Burros assured SG’s fourth consecutive outright runner-up finish in the SEC-East. For a second time this season, the Lions swept Lanesboro, this time 25-22, 25-11, 25-16. Both teams came in with 16 wins. SG improved to 11-2 SEC, 17-6 overall while LHS slipped to 9-4, 16-8. It was a frustrating first set for both teams, but the Lions eventually achieved some offensive rhythm. Lanesboro never did. Spring Grove attacked with 17% efficiency (35 kills, 16 misfires) while the Burros managed 15 kills with 21 hitting errors. Each team gained only one point at the service line. The Lions served 12 aces while giving away 11 points with errant serves. The Burros served five aces with four errors. Joelle Halverson had team-highs with 41% hitting efficiency and 10 kills. Jordis Neeley (39%) added 8 kills. VanMinsel supplied 26 set assists. On defense, VanMinsel and Izabel Kaufmann each had 11 digs, Halverson 10, and Sydney Holland 8. Jensyn Storhoff (4 kills, 9 assists, 13 digs) and Ava Rein (9 digs) led the Burros. In tourney action at Goodhue, the Lions won their pool with 2-0 wins over Hayfield (25-15, 25-18), Alden-Conger (25-20, 25-20) and Medford (25-20, 25-22). In the championship match, SG fell to Cleveland (28-26, 22-25, 11-15). Both Cleveland and Alden-Conger were enjoying 20-win seasons. For the day, Hailey Normann and Halverson each had 28 kills. Neeley scored with 26 kills and 6 ace serves. Holland had 51 digs, Halverson 40. Van Minsel had 88 assists, notching 71 to get to her 2,000th.
Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (10/8 & 10/10)
Dover-Eyota 0, Fillmore Central 3 > 25-13, 25-18, 25-16 (FC: Ella Dahly 6 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces; Kyla Hellickson 4 kills, 14 digs; Josie Corson 3 kills, 11 digs; Hannah Vaalemoen 11 assists; Aubrey Daniels 13 assists, 5 digs; Katelyn Scheevel 7 kills; Annika Mensink 6 kills. Two matches removed from beating then TRC two-loss L-A, FC beats the two-loss Eagles)
Rushford-Peterson 0, Cotter 3 > 13-25, 10-25, 18-25 (RP: Lindsey Hoiness 7 kills; T. Schneider 4 kills, 11 digs; Ava Helgemoe 4 kills; A. Connaughty 16 assists, 5 digs; A. Drinkall 16 digs)
Lewiston-Altura 3, #4 in AA Caledonia 2 > 25-19, 14-25, 25-19, 25-27, 14-16 (C: L. Myhre 24 kills, 16-18 serving, 4 aces; Sienna Augedahl 11 kills, 7 digs, 4 total blocks, 20-22 serving, 5 aces; A. Augedahl 40 assists, 10 digs, 3 total blocks; Lauren Goetzinger 10 digs; Paizley Lange 9 kills; Elsa Blum 9 digs; Aubrie Klug 8 digs; Kensey King 7 digs; Ashlyn Reinhart 6 digs)
#4 in AA Caledonia 3, Dover-Eyota 0 > 25-8, 25-13, 25-11 (C: L. Myhre 19 kills; S. Augedahl 8 kills; E. Blum 6 kills; A. Augedahl 28 assists, 5 digs, 15-16 serving, 5 aces; P. Lange 17-19 serving, 5 aces; L. Goetzinger 8 digs; A. Klug 7 digs)
Southeast Conference Volleyball (10/8/ & 10/10)
Houston 3, Schaeffer Academy 0 > 25-10, 25-15, 25-20 (H: Jaden Woodard 11 kills; E. Botcher 6 kills, 23 digs; Olivia Yohe 23 assists, 13 digs; Cadence Koehler 12 digs, 3 aces; Emmie Melbo 6 digs; Ellasyn Carrier 8 digs, 3 aces)
Lyle/Pacelli 3, Kingsland 1 > 19-25, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25 (K: P. Robinson 38 digs; Caisa Kolling 6 kills, 4 aces; Kayln Stier 5 kills, 17 digs, 3 blocks; Jill Moore 12 digs; Chantle Reiland 11 assists, 5 digs, 6 aces; Macie Rasmussen 5 digs, 4 aces)
Kingsland 0, Southland 3 > 8-25, 16-25, 21-25 (K: P. Robinson 26 digs; K. Stier 4 kills, 8 digs; C. Reiland 8 assists, 4 digs; Jill Moore 12 digs. Kingsland is 3-10 in the SEC, 5-20 overall)
LeRoy-Ostrander 3, Glenville-Emmons 0 > 25-23, 26-24, 25-12 (L-O: B. Nolt 19 kills, 17-18 serving, 6 aces, 4 total blocks; Brooke Jasper 7 kills, 13 digs; Meah Stevens 32 assists, 13 digs; Maria Almaraz-Nolt 11 digs; Kaci McKenzie 4 kills; Miranda Nagel 4 aces; Addie Harn 7 digs)
Non-Conference Volleyball (10/7 – 10/12)
Rushford-Peterson 3, Southland 2 > 21-25, 26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 15-10 (R-P: T. Schneider 28 kills, 19 digs; L. Hoiness 15 kills, 13 digs, 20-21 serving, 4 aces; A. Connaughty 48 assists, 15 digs; A. Drinkall 35 digs, 17-17 serving, 3 aces; A. Helgemoe 10 kills; Shelby Tesch 7 kills)
Lakeville-North Milan Mader Tourney (Caledonia went 2-3. They lost to #4 in AAAA Eagan 0-2 (18-25, 8-25), #2 in AAA Marshall 0-2 (20-25, 14-25), and AAAA Eden Prairie 0-2 (17-25, 8-25) in pool play but beat Jackson County Central 2-0 (25-15, 25-17) and AAAA Rochester-Mayo 2-0 (25-23, 25-22) in ‘Flight G’ action. Warrior leaders: L. Myhre (45 kills, 7 total blocks), A. Augedahl (77 assists), S. Augedahl (21 kills, 6 aces), A. Klug (15 kills, 36 digs), E. Blum (15 kills, 20 digs), L. Goetzinger (27 digs))
Apple Valley Tourney (Grand Meadow went 1-3, beating AAA Winona 2-0 (25-17, 25-23) while losing to AAAA Apple Valley 0-2 (16-25, 11-25), AAA Stewartville 0-2 (20-25, 12-25), and AAA Albert Lea 1-2 (25-19, 19-25, 14-16). Tourney leaders: Hallie Hendrickson (63 assists, 21 digs, 7 aces), Gracie Foster (20 kills, 24 digs), Lauren Queensland (18 kills, 33 digs), Kendall Jack (18 kills), Haylie Paul (12 kills, 6 total blocks), Cheyenne Bakken (36 digs), and Rylee Schaufler (16 digs). GM is 10-3, 14-12)
Goodhue Tourney (Spring Grove took second at this tourney. See “Spring Grove Notches 20th Win, VanMinsel 2,000th Assist” for more. Rushford-Peterson went 1-3, beating LeRoy-Ostrander 2-0 (25-14, 25-15) while losing to Cleveland 1-1 (15-25, 26-24), Goodhue 0-2 (16-25, 21-25), and Medford 0-2 (21-25, 21-25). Trojan tourney leaders: L. Hoiness (30 kills, 34 digs), T. Schneider (19 kills, 50 digs), A. Drinkall (36 digs, 4 aces), A. Helgemoe (20 kills), Kayla Magin (43 assists, 31 digs, 28-29 serving, 4 aces), and A. Connaughty (30 assists, 18 digs, 4 aces). The Trojans are 4-5 in the TRC, 10-12 overall. L-O went 0-4, losing to Cleveland 0-2 (11-25, 14-25), R-P 0-2 (14-25, 15-25), Goodhue 0-2 (22-25, 20-25), and Hayfield 1-2 (25-10, 15-25, 11-25). Lark tourney leaders: B. Nolt (30 kills, 28 digs, 8 aces), M. Stevens (45 assists, 17 digs), B. Jasper (13 kills, 47 digs), and M. Almaraz-Nolt (21 digs). The Cardinals are 7-6 in the SEC, 10-15 overall.
Byron Tourney (Lanesboro beat Randolph 2-0 (25-22, 25-20) while losing to Randolph 1-2 (25-15, 8-25, 14-16), #7 in AAA Byron 0-2 (12-25, 20-25), LeSeur-Henderson 1-2 (20-25, 25-21, 8-15), and Watertown-Mayer 1-2 (17-25, 25-21, 5-15). The Burros are 9-4 in the SEC, 17-12 overall. Lanesboro junior setter Jensyn Storhoff recorded her 1,000th career dig)
Leave a Reply