Volleyball (9/22)

Volleyball: #6 Warriors Top #3 Gophers in Battle of AA Titans

For the second time in less than a week, #3 in Class AA Chatfield faced off with another talented, highly-ranked TRC foe. Days after falling to #3 in Class A Fillmore Central, #6 in AA Caledonia came to town for another hyped and key conference battle. The last two 1AA champions did battle in a match that surprisingly went just three sets. But they were as tightly contested as possible, each just a two-point victory. A lot of spirited volleyball was played, but the one absolute constant was the effort of Warrior senior libero Aubrie Klug. In a game that featured a ton of defense, 152 total digs in just three sets (or 50 per set), Klug was the best, racking up 30 defensive saves. And that effort certainly tipped the pendulum as the Warriors grabbed a huge league victory. Chatfield started game one 4-1, but then the Warriors were guns-blazing, scoring 21 of 30 points, building a 22-13 lead. Service errors were again an issue for the Gophers (like versus FC days earlier). Chatfield had four (of their seven for the match) in the set. They also had six hitting errors (unofficially), all as Caledonia rolled. But the Warriors dragged themselves across the finish line. Chatfield went on a 10-2 run, turning that nine-point Warrior lead (22-13) into just a one-point edge at 24-23. Caledonia had five hitting errors in the span. But a Chatfield errant shot gave Caledonia the match, 25-23. In game two, the Warriors had to come back, as the Gophers jumped out 4-1 and 8-4. Said match had ties at 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, and 24. Chatfield was at match point, 24-23, but put a serve into the net. The Warriors then used a hitting error and an Ashlyn Reinhart tip kill to the back corner to post the 26-24 game win. Caledonia then led most of game three including 23-18 late. But they again had to show resolve to complete the win. Gopher Trindy Barkeim served four points late, tying the match 23-23. But Elsa Blum then blocked down an errant Gopher pass, Adrienne Lange blocked down a big Cora Bicknese shot and Caledonia had its sweep. There will likely be a new TRC volleyball champion, as the Warriors posted the tough 3-0 win (25-23, 26-24, 25-23). Klug (30 digs) led the Warriors’ defense. Freshman Reinhart (9 kills, 16 digs, 2 aces) neared a double-double. Avery Augedahl had 28 assists. Blum (8 kills), Kensey King (6 kills), and Paizley Lange (5 kills, 5 digs) joined with Reinhart to give the Warriors some degree of offensive balance. Chatfield’s big four of Bicknese (14 kills, 17 digs), Barkeim (10 kills, 15 digs, 15-16 serving), Harper Goldsmith (22 assists, 17 digs, 16-16 serving), and Hannah Tweten (21digs) did work. Caledonia won its 10th match (10-1). The Warriors (4-0, 10-1) and FC (4-0, 8-2) are the last two unblemished TRC squads. R-P (3-1, 6-2) and Lewiston-Altura (3-1, 5-4) are tied for second in the league. Chatfield (2-2, 7-3) has two TRC losses but has probably played three of their toughest league games.

Volleyball: Lions Overtaken by Superlarks, Series Dominance Snapped 

Spring Grove took the first set, but visiting Grand Meadow stormed back to sweep the next three and end a 10-match series losing streak, 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22). Better serving and blocking were the statistical keys for the Superlarks. Grand Meadow outscored the Lions by 11 points overall with a seven-point advantage from the service line and a four-point margin with blocks. As both teams had a mediocre 15% hitting efficiency, the Larks achieved only one more kill (46 to 45) but outscored Spring Grove with blocks, 9 to 5. The Lions did not serve well enough to win (85%), for the second straight match with more service misfires (7) than aces (3). The visitors (91%) had a similar eight service errors but scored with 11 aces. GM served no aces while losing the first set but served four, four and three aces while claiming the final three sets. Gracie Foster had a season-high 18 kills (.208 hitting) to lead GM offensively, though fellow senior Kendall Jack put down 12 with 9 digs. Holly Weiss added 7 kills. Setter Hallie Hendrickson had 42 assists plus 7 digs while going 32 of 33 at the service line. Cheyenne Bakken (16 digs, 3 aces) and Regan Schaalma (11 digs) led GM’s defense. With eighth grader Claire Sherburne providing 36 set assists, it was group achievement at the net for SG. Jada Strinmoen had a Lion-most 11 kills with 9 each from Kylie Hammel, Brinley Middendorf and Hailey Normann. Madison Lile added 6 kills. Hammel was the most efficient (25%) with three times as many kills as miscues. Strinmoen served 100% (18 for 18) as did Lile (13 for 13). Sherburne (95%, 21 for 22) served two of the three SG aces. Ten Lions were credited with digs, paced by Izabel Kaufmann (17), Sherburne (16), Carlie Halverson (11) and Strinmoen (10). In the first set (SG 25-19), Spring Grove scored the first four points and won by six. But on the way, there were six tie scores and four lead changes. The Lions trailed 15-13 before taking control with an eight-point run. It was Grove’s best stretch of the night with four kills (three by Strinmoen), two blocks and an ace serve by Sherburne. GM scored the first five points of set two (GM 25-19) and was never caught. The Superlarks scored the first six points of set three (GM 25-17) and led throughout again. It was the only set in which the Lions had more total errors than winners. SG never led during the final fourth set. With a five-point run, GM had its greatest lead at 17-11. But the Lions fought back to twice get back within two points, including a 24-22 deficit before the match ended with a Superlark kill by Kendall Jack. GM (5-0, 9-4) leads the SEC-West over Southland (5-1, 5-1). SG (3-2, 3-2) dropped a second straight match.

Volleyball: #4 Falcons Sweep #8 Cotter, Then Hayfield 

Fillmore Central volleyball stayed league perfect on the year with a key TRC win, then easily posted a road non-conference victory. At Cotter, last year’s 1AA runner-up, the #4 in Class A (tie) Falcons swept the #8 in AA Ramblers 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-20). They leaned on sophomore standout Madi Zwart for a big match, 21 kills on .613 hitting. She had more than half of FC’s 36 put-downs. Lauren Dahly added 7 kills. Josie Corson (16 digs), Norah Nagel (4 kills, 15 digs), and Kyla Hellickson (13 digs) contributed to a strong defensive effort. Aubrey Daniels (19 assists, 14-15 serving, 2 aces) and Hannah Vaalemoen (14 assists) split the setting. No Falcon had more than two, but six Falcons contributed to serving eight aces. FC then breezed through Hayfield 3-0 (25-7, 25-15, 25-11) with 19 aces. Hellickson (7 kills, 6 digs, 21-21 serving, 7 aces) was the stand-out server. Nagel (5 kills), Dahly (3 kills, 9-9 serving) and Vaalemoen (9 assists) each added three aces. Zwart led the team with 7 kills. Daniels added 11 assists and 9 digs. FC (4-0, 8-2) and Caledonia (4-0, 10-1) lead the TRC.

Volleyball: #4 Cougars Go 7-1 for the Week, Lose First Set and Match

Mabel-Canton’s volleyball beat has continued this year, despite graduating 75% of its key players from last year. The Cougars went 7-1 on the week, winning a key cross-SEC match-up, only losing at the Heritage Christian Academy tourney. In a battle of East and West leaders, unbeaten M-C (8-0) dropped a set to unbeaten (4-0) Southland, but took the match 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19). Kinley Soiney (16 kills, 9 digs, 4 aces, 5 total blocks), Gwen Rein (37 assists, 9 digs), and Braylee Stortz (9 kills, 13 digs, 18-20 serving, 2 aces) did the biggest work. Tylar Wenthold (10 kills), Lauren Burke (11 digs, 15-15 serving), Ella Halverson (6 kills), and Livia Garness (12-12 serving, 3 aces) helped. M-C then easily handled Schaeffer Academy 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-9). The seventh grader Garness was 22 of 22 serving with 6 aces. M-C had 18 aces and just six service errors. Soiney (12 kills, 4 digs), Rein (28 assists, 3 aces) and Burke (6 digs, 14-14 serving, 3 aces) did big work. Stortz (8 kills), Halverson (5 kills) and Wenthold (4 kills) helped. M-C improved to 10-0. At the HCA Tourney, Mabel-Canton beat Holy Family Catholic 2-0 (25-23, 25-21), West Lutheran 2-0 (25-18, 25-19), and Minneapolis-Camden 2-0 (25-8, 25-9) in pool play. In championship play, they beat Coon Rapids 2-0 (25-22, 25-22), then lost to AAA Hutchinson 0-2 (15-25, 19-25) before beating Spectrum 2-0 (25-21, 25-19). Cougar tourney leaders were Soiney (75 kills, 85 digs, 12 total blocks), Stortz (30 kills, 58 digs, 11 aces), Rein (127 assists), Burke (91 digs), Kaylee Kleppe (48 digs), Wenthold (27 kills), Halverson (26 kills), and Garness (44-45 serving, 9 aces). The latter finished the week 78 of 79 serving with 18 aces. Mabel-Canton (5-0, 15-1), ranked #4 in Class A, leads the SEC-East over Spring Grove (4-2, 4-2). 

Volleyball: L-O Posts 5-1 Week, Tops Lanesboro in Five Sets 

After a 1-8 start to the year, LeRoy-Ostrander volleyball pulled an about-face with a 5-1 week. Lindsay Milks’ group came back from down two-sets-to-one to post the 3-2 win over Lanesboro (25-20, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-10). Madi Stern (20 kills, 22-24, serving, 3 aces) and Miranda Nagel (18 kills) each posted a career-high kill number. Tessa Lewison (19 digs), Maria Almaraz-Nolt (17 digs), Addie Harn (16 digs), and Keira Lewison (14 digs) all racked up double-digit defenses. Setter Meah Stevens went for 32 (assists) and 11 (digs). Lanesboro was led by Ellie Howard (27 digs), Emma Ruen (47 assists, 8 digs), Sari Rein (19 kills), Jentrey Schreiber (13 kills, 19 digs), Kaylee Gilbertson (18 digs), and Hailey Erickson (9 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces). The total match score was 105 to 103 Cardinals. Lanesboro entered 3-2 in the SEC/overall, L-O at 1-4, 1-8 overall. The Cardinals then took care of Kingsland 3-0 (25-8, 25-22, 25-12). Stevens (28 assists), Almaraz-Nolt (8 kills), Nagel (7 kills), Stern (5 kills, 6 digs, 20-22 serving, 2 aces), K-Lewison (7 kills, 7 digs), T-Lewison (10 digs), and Harn (7 digs) did work. Paisley Robinson (13 digs), Jill Moore (6 digs), Emma Howard (6 digs), and Chloe Drury-DeBoer (5 digs) led the Knights. L-O then went 3-1 at the Wabasha-Kellogg Tourney beating Kingsland 2-0 (25-12, 27-25), Houston 2-0 (25-17, 25-19), and W-K 2-0 (25-19, 25-20) while losing to Lanesboro 1-2 (25-21, 20-25, 8-15) in the semifinals. Cardinal tourney leaders were Stevens (81 assists, 35 digs), K-Lewison (15 kills, 25 digs), Nagel (33 kills), T-Lewison (45 digs), Harn (24 digs), Almaraz-Nolt (18 kills, 35 digs), Stern (20 kills), and Kendall Olson (15 kills, 18 digs). L-O improved to 3-4 in the SEC, 6-9 overall.

Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (9/9)

Wabasha-Kellogg 0, Rushford-Peterson 3 > 25-16, 25-9, 25-11 (RP: Torryn Schneider 6 kills, 17 digs, 24-24 serving, 4 aces; Kayla Magin 18 assists, 10 digs; A. Drinkall 21 digs; Ava Helgemoe 7 kills, 6 digs; Brielle Schneider 7 kills; Avree Connaughty 6 assists, 7 digs; Ariana Bettinger 6 kills. R-P (3-1, 6-2) lost to the Falcons days earlier 2-0 at the Lake City Tourney)

Southeast Conference Volleyball (9/8 – 9/11) 

Glenville-Emmons 0, Houston 3 > 25-20, 25-21, 26-24 (H: Olivia Yohe 25 assists, 16 digs; Cadence Koehler 18 digs; Jorja Meyer 7 kills, 7 digs, 3 blocks, 6 aces; Averie Evanson 6 kills, 9 digs; Emmie Melbo 7 kills, 12 digs; Taylor Stutzka 5 kills, 5 digs; Lydia Pedretti 4 kills) 

Houston 0, Spring Grove 3 > 25-20, 25-14, 25-9 (SG: Madison Lile 10 kills; Hailey Normann 10 kills; Brinley Middendorf 5 kills, 11-12 serving, 4 aces; Kylie Hammel 6 kills; Jada Strinmoen 5 kills, 8 digs; C. Sherburne 36 assists, 6 digs, 14-15 serving, 2 aces; Izabel Kaufmann 9 digs; Carlie Halverson 8 digs. H: O. Yohe 9 assists, 7 digs; C. Koehler 12 digs; A. Evanson 7 kills; E. Melbo 6 digs; J. Meyer 5 kills.)

Non-Conference Volleyball (9/11 & 9/13) 

#3 in AA Chatfield 3, Pine Island 0 > 25-20, 25-17, 25-15 (C: Trindy Barkeim 16 kills; Cora Bicknese 11 kills, 16 digs, 14-14 serving, 2 aces; Harper Goldsmith 5 kills, 31 assists, 12-12 serving, 3 aces; Hannah Tweten 22 digs, 17-17 serving, 3 aces; Amaya Harmening 4 kills, 4 total blocks. Chatfield was 71 of 73 serving (97%). Gophers > 2-2, 7-4)

Wabasha-Kellogg Tara Biever Classic (Lanesboro went 3-1, beating St. Anthony 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 15-8) while losing to Goodhue 1-2 (25-19, 17-25, 10-15) in a three-team pool, then beating LeRoy-Ostrander 2-1 (21-25 25-20, 15-8) and Goodhue 2-1 (14-25, 25-16, 15-9) to win the tourney title. Burro tourney leaders: Ellie Howard (55 digs), Emma Ruen (83 assists), Jentrey Schreiber (36 kills, 26 digs), Sari Rein (26 kills), Irelynn Papenfuss (26 digs) Kaylee Gilbertson (22 digs). Hailey Erickson (15 kills), Jensyn Storhoff (7 aces). LeRoy-Ostrander went 3-1 (See “L-O Posts 5-1 Week…” for more). Houston went 3-2, losing to W-K 2-0 (20-25, 21-25) and L-O 0-2 (17-25, 19-25) while beating Kingsland 2-0 (25-15, 25-22) in pool play, then beating St. Anthony 2-1 (19-25, 27-25, 15-11), and Kingsland again 2-1 (25-20, 19-25, 15-11). Hurricane Tourney leaders: O. Yohe (58 assists, 36 digs), C. Koehler (28 digs), E. Melbo (23 kills, 14 digs), A. Evanson (15 kills), J. Meyer (13 kills). Hurricanes > 2-4 in the SEC, 6-9 overall. Kingsland went 2-3, losing to L-O 0-2 (12-25, 25-27) and Houston 0-2 (15-25, 22-25) while beating W-K 2-1. Kingsland then beat St. Anthony 2-0 and lost to Houston 1-2 (20-25, 25-19, 11-25). The Knights are 1-4 in the SEC, 3-10 overall)