Volleyball: #2 Cougars Control Lions, Sweep Big SEC Matchup
Neighboring schools Mabel-Canton and Spring Grove have been rivals in volleyball for many years, though there is a caveat. The Cougars nearly always win. A year ago, the Lions were the only SEC team to test M-C, losing 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19) in Mabel, but 3-2 (25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 22-25, 15-13) in Spring Grove. M-C’s decades long SEC winning streak was in serious jeopardy the second match. In this year’s first meeting between teams boasting nearly the exact line-ups as a year ago, the Cougars dominated like they have dominated the rivalry. M-C jumped out big in all three sets; 6-2, 8-2, and 10-2. The Lions really only seriously contended in game one. They rallied from the 6-2 hole and later a 16-8 deficit. Senior Jordis Neeley keyed a big comeback, scoring five straight points (four kills, block) for the Lions. A 10-2 SG run tied the set at 18. It was later tied at 19 and 20. But M-C outside hitter Tylar Wenthold then scored with a kill. Kailey Ingvalson followed with an ace to make it 22-20. SG never again tied. Cougar senior Sahara Morken finished the set up with an ace. M-C took the game 25-22 despite eight service errors. Games two and three then fell 25-15 and 25-18. Kinley Soiney (19 kills, 5 total blks) and Morken (3 kills, 44 assists, 11 digs, 17-19 serving, 3 aces) powered the effort. Soiney hit .576. M-C spread it around offensively. Five girls accrued six-plus kills. Saijal Slafter (9 kills), right-side Hope Erickson (8 kills, 10 digs), Wenthold (7 kills, 5 digs), and Ingvalson (6 kills, 5 digs) allowed the Cougars to notched 52 kills in a three-set match (17-plus per game). It was their most kills per set since a 2022 win over Faribault B.A. in the 1A finals. Erickson’s contribution was big, as she did not play in either match last year. Lydia Vatland (7 digs) helped on defense. Coach Lonnie Morken “(We were) locked and loaded tonight.” Neeley (9 kills), Kendal VanMinsel (20 assists), and Sydney Holland (13 digs) were big for the Lions. Hailey Normann (6 kills, 5 total blks), Joelle Halverson (4 kills, 6 digs), and Izabel Kaufmann (6 digs) helped. Second-ranked M-C improved to 4-0 in the SEC, 11-0 overall. They have yet to lose a set. Their SEC win streak is approaching 200 matches in a row (it is unofficially at 194). The Lions fell to 2-1, 2-1.
Volleyball: #3 Gophers Ease Past Falcons in Notable TRC Battle
A year ago, when the teams hooked up, Fillmore Central had its chances. In a match Chatfield won 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23), the Falcons led late in both sets three and four. The 2024 edition of the volleyball rivalry, between teams that finished first and third in the TRC last year, was all Gophers. Save the second set, Kristi Rindels’ #3 in Class AA Chatfield group dominated. After dropping game one 25-17, the Falcons led game two 11-6 only for the Gophers to score 19 of the next 24 points for a 25-16 win. They then took game three, 25-9, for the 3-0 sweep. The #3-ranked team in Class AA rode their stars. Jaelyn LaPlante had a team-best 11 kills on .647 hitting. Cora Bicknese added 10 kills on .450 hitting. Each had six digs. Setter Harper Goldsmith had a big overall line (2 kills, 26 assists, 20-21 serving, 6 aces, 7 digs). Hannah Tweten (15 digs, 18-18 serving, 5 aces) and Trindy Barkeim (8 kills) helped big. FC got 11 kills from 6’0” freshman Katelyn Scheevel (.321 hitting). Lauren Dahly (7 assists, 9 digs), Ella Dahly (5 kills, 7 digs), Aubrey Daniels (11 assists), Kyla Hellickson (9 digs), and Izzy Nagel (4 kills) helped. The Falcons were 32 of 44 serving (73%) with three aces. Chatfield was 68 of 74 serving (92%) with 12 aces. Chatfield (2-0, 2-0) and FC (2-0, 3-0) each entered the match unblemished.
Volleyball: Burros Rally Past Houston, Down Schaeffer,
Move to 4-0
Lanesboro volleyball’s week was marked by two SEC league wins including a big comeback versus Houston. Said match was a tail of the first two sets, and then the last three sets. The visiting Hurricanes played spiritedly early. They took control of game one with a 5-0 run to lead 11-6. It helped lead to a 25-16 win. Senior Emily Botcher had six kills in the set. In the second game, Houston went on a 6-1 run mid-match to lead 18-13. The Burros could not recover and Robin Thesing’s group took the game 25-20. But Lanesboro started game three 8-0 and began gaining momentum they would not completely relinquish. Houston narrowed the score to 22-20 late, but a couple blocks ended the match as the Burros prevailed 25-20. Lanesboro then controlled game four, going on a 6-1 run to lead 13-7. Via a 25-18 final, the Burros forced a fifth set. In it, Lanesboro’s momentum continued. They started 5-1 and later led 11-7. Houston fought back to even at 5-5 and then 11-11. But down the stretch, three of the final four Burro points were scored via ‘Cane errors. A Houston double-hit on a set granted the Burros the match, a come-from-behind 3-2 win (16-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-13)! It was Frankie Kohn-Nelson’s group’s second 3-2 win of the year (LeRoy-Ostrander in the season-opener). Five Burros had seven-to-nine kills; Jentrey Schreiber (9 kills, 9 digs), Hailey Erickson (8 kills, 8 digs), Taylor Hanson (8 kills, 3 total blks), Sari Rein (7 kills), and Ava Rein (7 kills, 12 digs). A-Rein had three kills in the final set. Jensyn Storhoff (33 assists, 23 digs, 4 aces) set the table and more. Ellie Howard (24 digs) led the Burro defensive effort. Botcher (14 kills, 22 digs) led the Hurricanes. Olivia Yohe (4 kills, 24 assists, 10 digs), Ellasyn Carrier (25 digs), Cadence Koehler (23 digs), and Jaden Woodard (8 kills, 6 digs) were big help. The Burros also beat Schaeffer Academy 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-15). Storhoff had a triple-double (31 assists, 16 digs, 11 aces). Hanson (10 kills), Howard (10 digs), Schreiber (7 kills), and A-Rein (7 kills) helped. Lanesboro improved to 4-0 in the SEC/overall. They are tied with M-C (4-0, 11-0) atop the SEC-East.
Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (9/5)
Caledonia 3, La Crescent/Hokah 0 > 25-14, 25-17, 25-16 (C: Liv Myhre 11 kills, 5 digs; Aubrie Klug 6 kills, 5 digs; Sienna Augedahl 5 kills, 3 blks, 4 aces; Avery Augedahl 21 assists, 5 digs; Ashlyn Reinhart 6 digs)
Dover-Eyota 3, Rushford-Peterson 1 > 16-25, 15-25, 25-19, 14-25 (R-P: Lindsey Hoiness 9 kills, 13 digs; Torryn Schneider 8 kills, 16 digs; Kayla Magin 16 assists, 5 digs, 14-14 serving; Addison Drinkall 11 digs; Shelby Tesch 4 kills)
Southeast Conference Volleyball (9/3 & 9/5)
Grand Meadow 3, Southland 0 > 25-14, 25-23, 25-18 (GM: H. Hendrickson 25 assists, 19-23 serving, 5 digs, 4 aces; Cheyenne Bakken 10 digs, 3 aces; K. Jack 11 kills; Haylie Paul 5 kills, 10 digs; Gracie Foster 6 kills; Lauren Queensland 5 kills; Rylee Schaufler 6 kills, 5 digs)
Spring Grove 3, Schaeffer Academy 0 > 25-1, 25-3, 25-7 (SG: J. Neeley 10 kills, 16-17 serving, 9 aces; K. VanMinsel 18 assists, 15 aces; Joelle Halverson 9 kills; Emerson Ingvalson 6 kills, 5 digs, 9-9 serving, 2 aces; Sydney Holland 5 digs, 3 aces)
Glenville-Emmons 2, Kingsland 3 > 21-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-18, 15-10 (K: Kalyn Stier 13 kills, 4.5 blks; P. Robinson 25 digs; Macie Rasmussen 10 assists, 4 aces; Caisa Kolling 6 digs, 8 aces; Kaelynn Howard 8 digs; Chantle Reiland 5 kills)
LeRoy-Ostrander 3, Lyle/Pacelli 1 > 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 (L-O: B. Nolt 16 kills, 12 digs, 4 total blks; Brooke Jasper 12 kills, 10 digs; Meah Stevens 14 assists, 11 digs; Kaci McKenzie 7 kills, 5 digs; Maria Almaraz-Nolt 16 assists, 6 digs; Madi Stern 5 aces. Cardinals pick up first win after 0-3 start)
Grand Meadow 3, Glenville-Emmons 0 > 25-11, 25-8, 25-13 (GM: H. Paul 9 kills; K. Jack 20-21 serving, 7 aces; H. Hendrickson 22 assists; L. Queensland 4 kills, 10 digs; G. Foster 5 kills. GM had 17 aces.)
LeRoy-Ostrander 3, Kingsland 0 > 25-6, 25-22, 25-16 (LO: B. Nolt 11 kills, 3 aces; M. Almaraz-Nolt 6 kills, 13 assists; K. McKenzie 17-18 serving, 9 aces; M. Stevens 14 assists; Tessa Lewison 8 digs; B. Jasper 7 digs. K: P. Robinson 9 digs; Chloe Drury-DeBoer 7 digs; K. Howard 6 digs; C. Reiland 3 kills, 4 aces; Vaira Merkel 3 kills, 5 digs; K. Stier 4 kills; Emma Howard 5 assists)
Non-Conference Volleyball (9/6 & 9/7)
Apple Valley Aerie Challenge (Caledonia went 2-2, beating Concordia Academy 2-0 (26-24, 25-22) and Zumbrota-Mazeppa 2-1 (25-22, 20-25, 15-12) while losing to AAAA Edina 1-2 (25-21, 25-27, 9-15) and AAA Stewartville 0-2 (20-25, 22-25). Warrior tourney leaders: L. Myhre (37 kills), A. Klug (30 kills, 41 digs), A. Augedahl (7 kills, 87 assists, 27 digs), S. Augedahl (14 kills), Ashlyn Reinhart (19 digs, 19-20 serving, 3 aces), Lauren Goetzinger (46 digs). The Warriors are 3-0, 6-2. Chatfield went 2-2, beating Avail Academy 2-0 (25-10, 25-6) and Faribault 2-0 (25-17, 25-15) while losing to AAA Cretin Derham-Hall 1-2 (21-25, 25-11, 12-15) and AAAA Park of Cottage Grove 0-2 (25-27, 13-15). Chatfield tourney leaders: Harper Goldsmith (82 assists, 10 aces), Jaelyn LaPlante (41 kills, 15 digs), Trindy Barkeim (29 kills), Cora Bicknese (20 kills, 16 digs), Hannah Tweten (45 digs). The Gophers are 3-0, 5-2. Fillmore Central went 1-3, beating Hastings 2-0 (25-14, 25-20) while losing to AAAA Apple Valley 0-2 (16-25, 19-25), AAA Faribault 1-2 (25-23, 22-25, 12-15), and AA Concordia Academy 0-2 (21-25, 20-25). Falcon tourney leaders: Kyla Hellickson (58 digs, 10 aces), Lauren Dahly (13 kills, 27 assists, 15 digs), Katelyn Scheevel (19 kills), Ella Dahly (13 kills, 24 digs), Aubrey Daniels (6 kills, 35 assists, 17 digs), Lily Miller (23 digs), Izzy Nagel (16 kills), Annika Mensink (11 kills). The Falcons are 2-1, 4-4. All of Caledonia, Chatfield and FC’s losses were to teams in classes higher than their own)
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tourney (Grand Meadow went 1-4, beating Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial 2-0 (25-16, 25-21) while losing to Fairmont 0-2 (22-25, 21-25), Nova Classical Academy 0-2 (11-25, 12-25), W-E-M 1-2 (25-18, 19-25, 15-17), and Cleveland 1-2 (25-15, 14-25, 6-15). Lark tourney leaders: K. Jack (23 kills, 17 digs), G. Foster (24 kills, 31 digs), L. Queensland (19 kills, 44 digs), H. Hendrickson (87 assists), C. Bakken (45 digs), and H. Paul (12 kills, 28 digs). GM > 3-1, 6-7)
Winona-Cotter Sugarloaf Classic Tourney (Houston went 1-3, beating Schaeffer Academy 2-0 (25-7, 25-9) while losing to PEM 1-2 (25-13, 19-25, 5-15), La Crescent/Hokah 0-2 (14-25, 25-27), and Lewiston-Altura 0-2 (12-25, 24-26). Hurricane tourney leaders: Emily Botcher (14 kills, 15 digs), Olivia Yohe (33 assists, 16 digs), Ellasyn Carrier (35 digs), Cadence Koehler (26 digs), Jorja Meyer (15 kills), Averie Evanson (13 kills), Emmie Melbo (15 digs). Hurricanes > 1-2, 2-5)
Lake City Tourney (Rushford-Peterson beat Wabasha-Kellogg 2-0, Lake City 2-0, and Kingsland 2-0. Kingsland lost to R-P 0-2, Lake City 0-2, and Wabasha-Kellogg 0-2. Trojans are 0-3, 3-4. Knights are 2-3, 2-6)
Hayfield Tourney (LeRoy-Ostrander beat Hayfield 2-1 (23-25, 25-21, 15-10) while losing to D-E 0-2 (19-25, 17-25), Pine Island 0-2 (6-25, 9-25), and Goodhue 0-2 (23-25, 14-15). L-O tourney leaders: B. Jasper (21 kills, 27 digs), B. Nolt (23 kills, 16 digs), M. Almaraz-Nolt (7 kills, 26 assists, 20 digs), M. Stevens (31 assists, 28 digs). Cardinals > 2-3, 3-6)
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