Volleyball (9/29)

Volleyball: Larks Take Control of West, Post 6-0 Week Overall 

Grand Meadow volleyball won two SEC matches on the week, sweeping their nearest SEC-West foe. They also went 4-0 at a home tourney to post a 6-0 week. Versus Southland (5-1, 5-1), the Larks (5-0, 9-4) lengthened their lead in the division with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-22). Setter Hallie Hendrickson (25 assists, 8 digs, 14-15 serving, 3 aces) led the charge. Gracie Foster (13 kills) led the team on attack, Cheyenne Bakken (12 digs) on defense. Kendall Jack (3 kills, 11 digs), Alyvia Olson (5 kills), Rylee Holst (9 digs), and Regan Schaalma (6 digs) helped for Cathy Paul’s group. GM then swept Houston 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-19). Hendrickson (32 assists, 12 digs, 21-21 serving, 4 aces, 12 digs), Foster (11 kills, 3 aces), Jack (12 kills, 11 digs), and Bakken (17 digs, 14-15 serving, 4 aces) were again big. Holst (8 digs) and Holly Weiss (9 kills) helped. The ‘Canes were led by Averie Evanson (6 kills, 7 digs), Olivia Yohe (11 assists, 6 digs), Emmie Melbo (4 kills, 13 digs), Cadence Koehler 14 digs), and Mary Srock (6 digs). GM then beat Lourdes 2-0 (25-17, 25-15), Hayfield 2-1 (25-27, 25-18, 15-11), St. Charles 2-1 (23-25, 25-21, 15-12), and Faribault B.A. 2-0 (26-24, 25-18) to win a home tourney in the event’s first year. Hendrickson (7 kills, 96 assists, 17 digs, 6 aces), Foster (28 kills, 20 digs), Jack (23 kills, 25 kills, 9 aces), Bakken (52 digs), and Olson (28 kills) led the charge. The Larks (7-0, 15-4) are well up on the Rebels (6-3, 6-3) in the SEC-West. They join Mabel-Canton (7-0, 19-3) as the SEC’s only unbeaten league teams. Houston is 3-5, 7-10. 

Volleyball: Lions Fall Just Short in Ending Cougars’ Streak

There is a streak down Mabel-way. A volleyball streak. It is rather extraordinary. Mabel-Canton has not lost an SEC-league match since 2009. They have been beaten by SEC teams at tournaments (Spring Grove) and the SEC East-West Showcase (Grand Meadow). But in-season SEC games? Nope. All M-C. When the #5 in Class A Cougars (5-0, 15-1) hosted rival SG (4-2, 4-2), there was not quite the hoopla of the past two years, where both teams were laden with experienced talent. This season’s squads are mostly new kids playing bigger roles. For two sets, M-C’s dominance continued. They took game one 25-22, but led 24-19 at one point. And then game two fell 25-17. All-State middle Kinley Soiney put down 11 kills in the two games. Lonnie Morken’s group looked well on its way. But Lion head Kelsey Morken can also coach. SG has been consistently good, too. The Lions were then much better than M-C in game three. SG started 12-3 and M-C was never really in it in a 25-19 win. As game four evolved, the Lions’ momentum mounted. Just like game three, SG was better. Libero Izabel Kaufmann keyed a strong defense. Jada Strinmoen had a key serving session mid-set that expanded the Lions’ lead to 17-12. After just one kill in game three, Soiney had seven, but it was not nearly enough. SG prevailed 25-19. The streak looked to be in serious jeopardy. With it tied two sets to two, SEC-reality came calling in game five. After seven ties, the last at 10-10, M-C ended on a 5-1 run. Soiney had a couple kills and a solo block in that span. Cougar senior Tylar Wenthold ended the match with an off-the-block kill. The streak, which is at 211, continued. M-C prevailed 3-2 (25-22, 25-17, 19-25, 19-25, 15-11). Soiney, in her 10th league match in this series, was massive (23 kills, 10 digs, 26-31 serving, 6 aces, 3 ace blocks). Eighth grader Gwen Rein (45 assists, 6 digs) set the table. Eighth grader Braylee Stortz (12 kills, 11 digs), Wenthold (9 kills), and Ella Halverson (5 kills) got in on the offense. Lauren Burke added 16 digs. Kaufmann (22 digs) led the Lions alongside 8th grade setter Claire Sherburne (5 kills, 29 assists, 13 digs, 19-19 serving). Brinley Middendorf (12 kills), Kylie Hammel (11 kills), Strinmoen (6 kills, 11 digs, 20-22 serving, 3 aces), Elle Berns (12 digs), Carlie Halverson (12 digs, 3 aces), and Madison Lile (6 kills) helped. The Lions played without starter Hailey Normann. M-C also beat Lyle/Pacelli in SEC action, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23). Soiney (9 kills, 6 digs, 21-23 serving, 6 aces), Stortz (9 kills, 5 digs), Rein (27 assists, 8 digs), Wenthold (8 kills, 5 digs), Burke (7 digs), and Kaylee Kleppe (7 digs) did work. SG also beat Kingsland and both teams took on the Class A Showcase (See “Volleyball” for more). The Cougars (7-0, 20-3) ended the week leading SG (5-3, 6-7) atop the SEC-East. 

Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (9/15 – 9/18)

#5 in AA Chatfield 3, Lewiston-Altura 0 > 26-24, 25-18, 25-15 (C: Cora Bicknese 13 kills, 12 digs; T. Barkeim 8 kills; H. Goldsmith 6 kills, 22 assists; Hannah Tweten 6 digs; Grace Patten 5 aces) 

PEM 0, #4 in A Fillmore Central 3 > 25-9, 25-17, 25-21 (FC: K. Hellickson 6 kills, 13 digs, 18-19 serving, 4 aces; M. Zwart 16 kills; Aubrey Daniels 15 assists, 9 digs, 17-17 serving, 3 aces; Norah Nagel 5 kills; J. Corson 11 digs, 12-12 serving, 4 aces; Hannah Vaalemoen 8 assists, 5 digs; Lauren Dahly 4 kills. FC served 15 aces with just five service errors) 

#9 in AA Cotter 1, #3 in AA Caledonia 3 > 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 (Cal: A. Augedahl 34 assists, 10 digs; Elsa Blum 8 kills, 8 digs; A. Klug 32 digs; Kensey King 16 kills, 4 blocks; Paizley Lange 18 digs, 5 aces; Ashlyn Reinhart 9 kills, 13 digs; Adrienne Lange 8 kills. Caledonia avenged two losses last year, 3-2 in the regular season, and 3-1 in the section semifinals) 

St. Charles 0, Rushford-Peterson 3 > 25-20, 25-9, 25-19 (R-P: Torryn Schneider 9 kills, 13 digs, 18-18 serving, 4 aces; Ava Helgemoe 8 kills; Kayla Magin 14 assists, 6 digs, 17-17 serving, 5 aces; Addison Drinkall 12 digs; Brielle Schneider 3 kills, 7 digs) 

#5 in AA Caledonia 3, PEM 0 > 25-13, 25-14, 25-17 (C: A. Klug 18 digs, 3 aces; A. Augedahl 26 assists, 8 digs; A. Reinhart 3 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces; K. King 5 kills; A. Lange 4 kills, 4 blocks; P. Lange 4 kills, 6 digs; Lauren Goetzinger 6 digs) 

Dover-Eyota 0, #5 in AA Chatfield 3 > 25-14, 25-21, 27-25 (C: T. Barkeim 16 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces; C. Bicknese 11 kills, 12 digs, 14-15 serving, 4 aces; H. Goldsmith 30 assists, 6 digs; H. Tweten 16 digs) 

Southeast Conference Volleyball (9/16 – 9/18) 

Lyle/Pacelli 3, Kingsland 0 > 12-25, 18-25, 12-25 (K: Paisley Robinson 15 digs; Kalyn Stier 6 digs, 2.5 blocks; Jill Moore 5 digs; Emma Howard 5 assists) 

Lanesboro 2, Houston 3 > 18-25, 25-22, 9-25, 25-23, 15-12 (H: E. Melbo 9 kills, 22 digs; C. Koehler 42 digs; Olivia Yohe 5 kills, 29 assists, 19 digs; Jorja Meyer 16 kills; Averie Evanson 10 kills, 7 digs; Mary Srock 12 digs. L: E. Ruen 35 assists, 23 digs; E. Howard 19 digs; Irelynn Papenfuss 15 digs; Sari Rein 9 kills, 11 digs, 4 aces, 3 total blocks; Hailey Erickson 14 kills, 7 digs; Jentrey Schreiber 8 kills, 9 digs; Kaylee Gilbertson 5 kills, 9 digs; Cora Mayer 6 kills, 4 total blocks.) 

LeRoy-Ostrander 3, Glenville-Emmons 1 > 17-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18 (L-O: M. Stevens 3 kills, 30 assists, 11 digs; Miranda Nagel 12 kills; Maria Almaraz-Nolt 9 kills, 16 digs; Madi Stern 8 kills; Keira Lewison 7 kills, 7 digs, 20-20 serving, 4 aces; Tessa Lewison 11 digs; Addie Harn 10 digs. Cardinals > 4-4, 7-9) 

Lanesboro 3, Southland 0 > 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 (L: Jensyn Storhoff 4 kills, 10 assists, 15 digs; E. Ruen 3 kills, 16 assists, 15 digs; E. Howard 22 digs; J. Schreiber 11 kills, 6 digs; H. Erickson 5 kills, 8 digs; I. Papenfuss 7 digs; K. Gilbertson 6 digs; C. Mayer 4 kills, 4 total blocks) 

Spring Grove 3, Kingsland 0 > 25-15, 25-16, 25-9 (SG: Hailey Normann 10 kills, 56% efficiency; Madison Lile 4 kills, 13-13 serving, 4 aces; Claire Sherburne 24 assists, 3 aces; Kylie Hammel 5 kills; Jada Strinmoen 7 kills. Izabel Kaufmann 3 aces. K: P. Robinson 18 digs; E. Howard 9 assists; Chloe Drury-DeBoer 8 digs; K. Stier 8 digs; J. Moore 6 digs. Knights > 1-6, 3-12) 

Non-Conference Volleyball (9/18 & 9/20)

#4 in AAA Stewartville 3, #3 in A Fillmore Central 2 > 25-23, 22-25, 14-25, 25-23, 11-15 (FC: M. Zwart 23 kills; K. Hellickson 10 kills, 21 digs, 24-24 serving, 5 aces; J. Corson 35 digs; A. Daniels 28 assists, 10 digs; N. Nagel 9 kills, 11 digs; L. Dahly 6 kills, 4 aces; H. Vaalemoen 6 kills, 24 assists, 5 digs, 4 aces) 

Class A Showcase (Fillmore Central, ranked #3, won its pool beating Westbrook-Walnut Grove 2-0 (25-18, 25-17), Cleveland 2-0 (25-18, 25-22), and #5 MACCRAY 2-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-10). In the Gold Bracket, FC lost to #2 Mayer Lutheran 1-2 (16-25, 25-17, 17-19) while beating #6 Canby 2-0 (25-17, 25-19). They took third place. Falcon tourney leaders: M. Zwart (43 kills, 9 total blocks), K. Hellickson (34 kills, 69 digs), L. Dahly (23 kills), N. Nagel (13 kills, 45 digs, 10 aces), H. Vaalemoen (49 assists, 21 digs), J. Corson (81 digs), A. Daniels (51 assists, 21 digs). Mabel-Canton, ranked #7, took second in its pool, beating Pine River-Backus 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) and Kittson County Central 2-0 (26-24, 25-22) while losing to #2 Mayer Lutheran 0-2 (18-25, 14-25). In the Silver Bracket, M-C lost to #5 MACCRAY 1-2 (25-13, 14-25, 10-15) while beating #8 Ada-Borup-West 2-0 (25-18, 25-9). They took 7th place. M-C tourney leaders: K. Soiney (61 kills, 34 digs, 9 solo blocks), Gwen Rein (93 assists, 32 digs), Braylee Stortz (22 kills, 31 digs), Lauren Burke (46 digs), and Ella Halverson (21 kills). Spring Grove, facing three state-ranked opponents, placed 12th among 16 teams. In pool play, the Lions lost to #8 Ada-Borup-West 1-2 (24-26, 26-24, 14-16 > B. Middendorf 12 kills; H. Normann 10 kills; K. Hammel 7 kills; C. Sherburne 31 assists, 5 aces), #1 Minneota 0-2 (23-25, 11-25 > Sherburne 8 digs, 3 aces; I. Kaufmann 13 digs) while beating Wabasso 2-0 (25-19, 25-11 > Sherburne 9 assists, Normann 4 kills). In the Bronze Bracket, SG lost to K-W 0-2 (10-25, 21-25 > Hammel 7 kills on 11 attacks; Sherburne 13 assists, 7 digs; Kaufmann 9 digs) and Pine River-Backus 0-2 (22-25, 14-25 > Middendorf 5 kills; Strinmoen 6 digs; Sherburne 11 assists, 5 digs). Minneota beat Mayer-Lutheran 2-1 (25-23, 23-25, 16-14) for the tourney title. Rankings are from the September 21 poll.) 

Class AA Showcase (Chatfield, ranked #4 in AA, went 3-2 overall. In their initial three-team pool, they beat #8 Belle Plaine 2-1 (25-19, 22-25, 15-9) while losing to Wadena-Deer Creek 1-2 (26-28, 25-16, 11-15). All three teams in said pool went 1-1 with Chatfield taking first based on total points scored. In Gold Pool #1, the Gophers beat Watertown-Mayer 2-0 (25-11, 25-17) while losing to #2 Albany 1-2 (25-19, 21-25, 14-16). Chatfield then beat #3 Southwest Christian 2-0 (28-26, 25-16) to claim third place, avenging a season-opening loss. Gopher tourney leaders: H. Goldsmith (18 kills, 104 assists, 28 digs, 11 aces), T. Barkeim (53 kills, 25 digs), C. Bicknese (51 kills, 69 digs, 8 aces), H. Tweten (54 digs). Caledonia, ranked #6, went 3-2 overall. In their initial three-team pool, they beat Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 2-1 (23-25, 25-23, 15-11) while losing to St. Croix-Lutheran 1-2 (21-25, 25-19, 14-16). In the Silver Pool #3, the Warriors beat Winona-Cotter 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) while losing to #7 New Life Academy 0-2 (20-25, 18-25). Caledonia then beat #8 Belle Plaine 2-1 (25-17, 23-25, 15-6) to claim ninth place. Second-ranked Albany beat #5 Pequot Lakes 2-1 (18-25, 25-16, 15-11) for the tourney title. Rankings are from the September 21 poll) 

Waukon Tourney (Lanesboro went 4-2, beating Riceville 2-0, MFL-Mar-Mac 2-1, North Crawford 2-0, and Postville 2-0 while losing to Waukon 0-2 and Crestwood 0-2. Burro tourney leaders: E. Ruen (77 assists, 20 digs), J. Schreiber (34 kills, 9 aces), S. Rein (27 kills, 11 aces), E. Howard (23 digs), K. Gilbertson (25 digs). Burros are 4-4 in the SEC, 11-7 overall)