Volleyball (9/15)

Volleyball: Falcons End Gophers’ TRC Win Streak in Battle of #3s

Both teams made state last year, and finished fourth in their respective class. Each program has been strong for over a decade, and thus the two are TRC rivals. In a battle of the #3-rank-ed team in Class A, Fillmore Central, and the #3 ranked team in Class AA, Chatfield, the Falcons ended the Gophers two-plus-year reign of unblemished play in the Three Rivers Conference. FC rode strong defense and better hitting to their 3-1 victory. The set the Gophers won, game one, FC had a 19-16 lead. Kristi Rindels’ group finished on a 9-2 run for the 25-21 win. Hitting and service errors dogged the Gophers from that point on. Chatfield had 31 total hitting errors to FC’s 15. And after one serving error in game one, they had 13 in the final three sets. After three service errors in game one, FC had seven in the final three sets. The Falcons took advantage of Chatfield’s miscues in taking game two 25-18 and game three 25-17. Chatfield’s offense was more powerful when not erred. Junior hitter Cora Bicknese scored with at least five kills in each game. The Gophers (unofficially) outkilled FC in all four sets, 45 to 36 overall. They tried to force in the fifth set, leading most of the game four. It was the Falcons’ most inefficient hitting game. But Travis Malley’s group went on a 6-0 run, rallying from down 17-13 to up 19-17. Sophomore Hannah Vaalemoen served five points including a pair of key aces. Chatfield did not go quietly into the night though, as they rallied from down 22-19. A Grace Schroeder kill tied the match 22-22. But then the Gophers’ bugaboos for the match brought a tough battle in front of a full gymnasium to a close. After the prior 13 points were all earned via kill, ace, or block, three of the final four went in the books via Gopher error. Two hitting errors put FC up 24-22. A Bicknese kill forced a sideout with the score 24-23, but the match ended on a Chatfield service error. FC posted the key early season TRC win by 3-1 tally (21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-23), ending Chatfield’s league win streak at 23. They went 10-0 to win the last two TRC titles. FC did it as a team. Seniors Kyla Hellickson (7 kills, 26 digs, 4 total blocks) and Aubrey Daniels (18 assists, 10 digs, 19-20 serving, 2 aces) plus Maddie Zwart (12 kills), Norah Nagel (9 kills, 14 digs), Josie Corson (21 digs), and Vaalemoen (3 kills, 10 assists, 10 digs, 15-16 serving, 3 aces) all did big work. Lauren Dahly (3 kills) and Cora Britton each also added four total blocks. FC piled up 87 digs. Bicknese (21 kills, 14 digs) had a huge match for the Gophers. Harper Goldsmith (5 kills, 31 assists, 11 digs), Hannah Tweten (30 digs), and Trindy Barkeim (12 kills, 15 digs) also did big work. Chatfield had 83 digs. FC hit .151 while Chatfield hit .084. The Gophers swept last year’s matchup 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-9). The teams then met at the Apple Valley Tourney three days later with Chatfield winning 2-0 (25-18, 25-20). They hit a season-high .257 (eight errors) to FC’s .148 (10 errors) and had just three service errors to FC’s eight (See ‘Non-Conference Volleyball’ for more). 

Volleyball: Burros Top Lions in Five Sets, End Series Losing Streak 

Both teams went into the deciding fifth set, each having scored exactly 86 points, but Lanesboro was at its best in that finale to turn away visiting Spring Grove, 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-22, 15-9). With that fifth-set, six-point decision, the Burros ended an eight-match losing streak against the Lions (3-1 in the SEC and overall), who dropped their first 2024 match. Neither team attacked well nor distinguished itself with the serve, but Lanesboro was a bit better on both counts. The Lions had 11 more kills (51 to 40) but also 12 more hitting errors (36 to 24) than did their hosts. SG, at 88%, had two more service errors (11) than aces (9). The Burros were somewhat better at 92% with two more aces (10) than errant serves (8). It was a better night for defenders with LHS senior libero Ellie Howard recording 23 digs, one of which was the 1,000th of her career. Setter Emma Ruen had 19 digs to go with 30 assists. For SG, Jada Strinmoen (25 digs, 9 kills) and Izabel Kaufmann (23 digs) each topped 20 defenses. Claire Sherburne and Carlie Halverson each had 11 saves, Elle Berns 10. Sherburne piloted the Lion attack with 36 set assists while Hailey Normann was the most efficient hitter (23%) with a match-high 17 kills. Brinley Middendorf (10 kills), Madison Lile (7 kills) and Kylie Hammell (6 kills) chipped in on offense. The Burros were nearly flawless while taking the fifth set, 15-9, scoring with six kills, a block, no hitting misfires, or service errors. Meanwhile, the Lions mounted the most attacks (36 to 25) and had the most kills (8) but floundered with six errors at the net and two from the service line. Grove scored first with a Hammel kill and led 3-2 before Lanesboro scored the next three points and would not be caught. Jentrey Schreiber (10 kills, 12 digs) and Hailey Erickson (6 kills, 7 digs) each put away two kills during the final set. The match ended with a kill by Sari Rein (8 kills, 5 digs, 4 total blocks). Cora Mayer (6 kills, 3 blocks) and Kaylee Gilbertson (8 digs) helped for Lanesboro. SG won set one, 25-18, after breaking a 14-14 tie with a four-point run and closing another four-point spurt. After 13 kills in that first set, the Lions managed only five kills while the Burros led for most of the way while winning set two, 25-14. Set three (SG 25-18) was the worst for the Burros with seven winning plays and 13 miscues. Both squads limited mistakes in set four, but five aces spurred LHS to a 25-22 win. The set closed with three kills from each team, and it was on to set five. Lanesboro’s last win in the series was the 2020 COVID season. The Burros (3-2 in the SEC/overall) then topped Schaeffer Academy 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-19). Ruen (17 assists, 10 digs), Howard (11 digs), Gilbertson (8 digs), Schreiber (3 kills, 6 digs), Rein (5 kills, 4 aces), Mayer (5 kills) and Prailey Willford (5 digs) did work. 

Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (9/4)

Rushford-Peterson 3, Dover-Eyota 0 > 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 (R-P: T. Schneider 7 kills, 15 digs, 20-20 serving, 6 aces; Addison Drinkall 11 digs; 13-13 serving, 4 aces; Kayla Magin 10 assists, 6 digs, 13-13 serving, 3 aces; Ava Helgemoe 7 kills; Brielle Schneider 5 kills, 6 digs; Avree Connaughty 8 assists, 6 digs. R-P was 72 of 74 serving (97%) with 15 aces) 

La Crescent/Hokah 0, #6 in AA Caledonia 3 > 25-10, 25-16, 25-10 (C: Avery Augedahl 28 assists; A. Klug 22 digs; Ashlyn Reinhart 10 kills, 7 digs; Kensey King 9 kills, 4.5 blocks; Elsa Blum 5 kills, 5 digs; Adrienne Lange 7 kills) 

Southeast Conference Volleyball (9/2 – 9/4)

LeRoy-Ostrander 0, Southland 3 > 12-25, 17-25, 16-25 (L-O: Tessa Lewison 12 digs; Addie Harn 5 digs; Meah Stevens 10 assists; Keira Lewison 5 kills; Kendall Olson 6 digs, 4 aces; Maria Almaraz-Nolt 6 digs. Southland improved to 3-0) 

Schaeffer Academy 0, Houston 3 > 25-11, 25-20, 25-17 (H: O. Yohe 19 assists, 13 digs, 8 aces; Cadence Koehler 16 digs; Emmie Melbo 6 kills, 13 digs; Jorja Meyer 7 kills; Averie Evanson 6 kills, 5 aces; Taylor Stutzka 4 kills)

Glenville-Emmons 1, Kingsland 3 > 22-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-19 (K: Paisley Robinson 19 digs; Chloe Drury-DeBoer 11 digs; Emma Howard 15 assists, 5 digs; Jill Moore 7 digs; Caisa Kolling 4 kills, 4 digs, 5 aces. Kingsland won its first match) 

Lyle/Pacelli 1, Grand Meadow 3 > 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23 (GM: H. Hendrickson 4 kills, 28 assists, 8 digs, 27-27 serving, 3 aces; C. Bakken 21 digs; Kendall Jack 14 kills, 8 digs; Gracie Foster 8 kills, 10 digs; Regan Schaalma 12 digs; Alyvia Olson 6 kills; Claire Munson/Holly Weiss 5 digs) 

Kingsland 0, Southland 3 > 19-25, 11-25, 11-25 (K: P. Robinson 13 digs; C. Kolling 5 kills; Aliyah Holland 5 kills; E. Howard 8 assists; Sydney Wendt/C. Drury-DeBoer 5 digs) 

#4 in A Mabel-Canton 3, Houston 0 > 25-6, 25-16, 25-12 (M-C: K. Soiney 18 kills, 7 digs, 13-14 serving, 4 aces; G. Rein 35 assists, 5 digs, 16-17 serving, 4 aces; Ella Halverson 9 kills; Lauren Burke 8 digs; Braylee Stortz 7 kills; Tylar Wenthold 5 kills, 8 digs. H: C. Koehler 13 digs; O. Yohe 10 assists, 8 digs; E. Melbo/Mary Srock 6 digs; J. Meyer/A. Evanson 4 kills) 

LeRoy-Ostrander 0, Grand Meadow 3 > 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 (GM: C. Bakken 17 digs, 23-24 serving, 4 aces; H. Hendrickson 3 kills, 20 assists; K. Jack 12 digs; G. Foster 8 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces; Rylee Holst 8 digs; H. Weiss 5 kills; A. Olson 4 kills; R. Schaalma 11-11 serving, 3 aces. LO: T. Lewison 15 digs; Miranda Nagel 8 kills; M. Almaraz-Nolt 5 kills, 13 digs; M. Stevens 18 assists, 8 digs; K. Lewison 9 digs. GM had 15 aces)

Non-Conference Volleyball (9/2 – 9/6)

#6 in AA Caledonia 3, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 0 > 25-12, 25-20, 25-13 (C: A. Augedahl 24 assists; A. Klug 17 digs; E. Blum 7 kills, 3 aces; P. Lange 6 kills, 3 aces; K. King 5 kills, 6 total blocks; A. Lange 4 kills) 

#3 in AA Chatfield 3, Cannon Falls 0 > 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 (C: C. Bicknese 18 kills on .283 hitting, 27 digs; Trindy Barkeim 8 kills, 6 digs, 13-13 serving, 3 aces; Harper Goldsmith 8 kills, 27 assists, 11 digs; Hannah Tweten 14 digs; Maizee Priebe 6 digs; Zaylee Boyum 5 digs.) 

Apple Valley Aerie Invite (Chatfield went 3-1, beating Hastings 2-0 (25-9, 25-16) and Edina 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) in pool play then FC (25-18, 25-20) while losing to Waconia 0-2 (20-25, 21-25) in the Gold Bracket. They took second place. Gopher tourney leaders: C. Bicknese (36 kills, 28 digs), H. Goldsmith (11 kills, 65 assists, 19 digs), T. Barkeim (29 kills, 25 digs), and H. Tweten (47 digs, 6 aces). Fillmore Central beat Z-M 2-0 (25-21, 25-22) and Mounds View 2-1 (25-19, 23-25, 15-13) in pool play while losing to Chatfield 0-2 (18-25, 20-25) and Apple Valley 0-2 (20-25, 16-25) in championship Gold pool. They took fourth. Falcon tourney leaders: Kyla Hellickson (24 kills, 51 digs, 5 aces), Josie Corson (61 digs), Hannah Vaalemoen (43 assists, 17 digs, 6 aces), Norah Nagel (13 kills, 24 digs, 5 aces), Aubrey Daniels (44 assists, 5 aces), Madi Zwart (38 kills, 7 total blocks), Lauren Dahly (22 kills). Caledonia lost to Waconia 0-2 (14-15, 26-28) and beat Park of Cottage Grove 2-0 (25-15, 25-18) in pool play. They beat Edina 2-0 (25-19, 25-23) and Providence Academy 2-0 (25-17, 25-12) in the Silver bracket. They took fifth. Warrior tourney leaders: A. Reinhart (20 kills, 17 digs, 10 aces), K. King (19 kills, 7 blocks), E. Blum (19 kills, 12 digs, 6 aces), A. Augedahl (66 assists, 17 digs), A. Klug (34 digs, 6 aces), and P. Lange (24 digs))

Hayfield Lions Fall Classic Tourney (LeRoy-Ostrander lost to Goodhue 1-2 (26-24, 22-25, 6-15), Dover-Eyota 0-2 (13-25, 18-25), Alden-Conger 0-2 (13-25, 22-25), and Hayfield 0-2 (20-25, 19-25). Cardinals > 1-4 in the SEC, 1-8 overall) 

Lake City Tourney (Rushford-Peterson beat Lake City 2-0 and Kingsland 2-0 while losing to W-K 1-2. Kingsland lost to Lake City 1-2, W-K 0-2, and R-P 0-2. Knights > 1-3 in the SEC, 1-6 overall) 

46th Annual Waterville-Elisan-Morristown Tourney (Grand Meadow beat L-A 2-1 (13-25, 25-23, 15-8) while losing to Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial 0-2 (14-25, 23-25), Nova Classical Academy 0-2 (20-25, 23-25), and W-E-M 0-2 (14-25, 9-25). Superlark tourney leaders: H. Hendrickson (52 assists, 17 digs), C. Bakken (44 digs), G. Foster (20 kills), K. Jack (12 kills, 22 digs)) 

Winona-Cotter Sugarloaf Classic Tourney (Houston lost to Cotter 0-2 (15-25, 13-25), Rochester-Lourdes 0-2 (9-25, 19-25), and PEM 0-2 (17-25, 19-25) while beating Simley 2-0 (25-23, 26-24). Tourney leaders: O. Yohe (9 kills, 39 assists, 23 digs, 5 aces), C. Koehler (15 digs), E. Melbo (12 kills), A. Evanson/J. Meyer (10 kills). Hurricanes > 1-3 in SEC, 2-6 overall)