Photo by Paul Trende
Teams Take on Class A/AA Showcases, Warriors Grab AA Title
Area volleyball teams Mabel-Canton, Chatfield, Caledonia, Spring Grove, and Fillmore Central once again took on the Class A/AA Showcase tournaments in Burnsville. The Cougars and Gophers were each runner-up last year. This year, the Cougars, Warriors and Gophers each won their pools to make their Gold Brackets. Caledonia (7-4), which entered unranked, grabbed the AA title with a crazy-excellent weekend. In five matches, they beat four ranked teams and the defending Class AA champions. Dan Reinhart’s Warriors downed #3 Nova Classical Academy 2-0 (25-22, 25-17), #9 Redwood Valley 2-0 (25-20, 25-16), and defending Class AA champion Pequot Lakes 2-0 (25-15, 25-20) to win its pool. The Warriors then rode that momentum to the AA Gold Bracket title, beating #10 Hawley 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) and #4 Belle Plaine (16-25, 26-24, 17-15). And thus, in the span of two days, the Warriors (4-2, 12-4) almost doubled their win total with a handful of impressive victories by 10-1 set record. Liv Myhre (62 kills), Sienna Augedahl (30 kills, 8 aces, 6 blocks), Aubrie Klug (18 kills, 53 digs), Avery Augedahl (109 assists, 22 digs), and Lauren Goetzinger (32 digs) were tourney leaders. Klug was the tournament’s MVP and Myhre also made the all-tourney team. The Warriors also downed PEM on the week (See “TRC Volleyball”). Caledonia is now ranked #4. Last year’s AA Showcase runner-up Chatfield also won its pool. The Gophers beat Concordia Academy 2-1 (25-20, 23-25, 15-10), East Grand Forks 2-0 (25-16, 25-14), and #7 Southwest Christian 2-1 (25-15, 23-25, 15-12). In the Gold Bracket, they fell to #4 Belle Plaine 0-2 (14-25, 23-25) but beat #10 Hawley 2-0 (25-18, 25-15) to take third place. Tourney leaders were Harper Goldsmith (7 kills, 114 assists, 25 digs), Jaelyn LaPlante (44 kills, 22 digs), Trindy Barkeim (49 kills, 20 digs), Cora Bicknese (34 kills, 49 digs, 6 aces), and Hannah Tweten (46 digs). Bicknese made the All-Tourney team. The Gophers also beat notable foes Cannon Falls and Pine Island each 3-0 on the week (See “Non-Conference Volleyball” for more). Chatfield (5-0, 13-3) leads the TRC and is ranked #2. In Class A, #2 Mabel-Canton won its pool, beating MACCRAY 2-1 (25-17, 22-25, 15-11), Sebeka 2-0 (25-15, 25-13), and Cleveland 2-0 (25-15, 25-19). In the Class A Gold Bracket, M-C fell to #9 New Life Academy 1-2 (25-14, 25-27, 11-15) and then #1 Mayer Lutheran 0-2 (23-25, 10-25). M-C lead New Life 16-10 in the second set only to fall in a rematch of last year’s state third place match. M-C beat Mayer in last year’s Showcase semis 2-0. Cougar tourney leaders were Sahara Morken (124 assists, 49 digs, 8 aces), Kinley Soiney (58 kills, 36 digs, 7 aces, 6 total blks), Saijal Slafter (35 kills, 37 digs, 6 aces), Lydia Vatland (21 digs), Tylar Wenthold (16 kills), and Hope Erickson (16 kills). Morken made the All-Tourney team. Elsewhere, Spring Grove went 1-2 in pool play, beating Kenyon-Wanamingo 2-0 (25-17, 25-22) while losing to #9 New Life Academy 0-2 (18-25, 13-25) and #3 Canby 1-2 (17-25, 25-16, 13-15). They then beat Cleveland 2-0 (25-20, 28-26) and Ely 2-0 (25-23, 25-17) to go 3-3 for the tourney and claim ninth place (of 16). SG also won SEC league matches with Southland, Lanesboro, and LeRoy-Ostrander each by sweep (See “SEC Volleyball”). Newly ranked #4 M-C (8-0, 24-2) and SG (7-1, 10-3) top the SEC-East. Fillmore Central also went 1-2 in pool play, beating Kittson County Central 2-1 (13-25, 26-24, 15-11) while losing to #1 Mayer Lutheran 0-2 (22-25, 13-25) and #7 Wabasso 1-2 (15-25, 25-14, 12-15). Like SG, they made the Bronze Bracket, falling to Ely 1-2 (15-25, 28-26, 9-15) and Cleveland 0-2 (17-25, 17-25). FC tourney leaders were Kyla Hellickson (62 digs), Lauren Dahly (23 kills), Ella Dahly (20 kills, 22 digs, 6 aces), Annika Mensink (18 kills, 11 aces), Izzy Nagel (17 kills), Hannah Vaalemoen (42 assists), Aubrey Daniels (41 assists), and Lily Miller (18 digs). FC did not have starting middle hitter Katelyn Scheevel. The Falcons are 4-1 in the TRC, 8-9 overall.
Three Rivers Conference Volleyball (9/17 & 9/19)
St. Charles 0, Rushford-Peterson 3 > 25-8, 25-17, 25-19 (R-P: Torryn Schneider 4 kills, 11 digs, 23-24 serving, 6 aces; Lindsey Hoiness 7 kills, 6 digs; Ava Helgemoe 12 kills; Kayla Magin 14 assists, 9 digs, 16-17 serving, 4 aces; Avree Connaughty 6 assists, 5 digs; Addison Drinkall 7 digs. The Trojans are 2-3 in the TRC, 5-6 overall)
PEM 0, Caledonia 3 > 25-9, 25-19, 25-10 (C: A. Augedahl 32 assists, 5 digs; Liv Myhre 13 kills; Sienna Augedahl 11 kills; Elsa Blum 8 kills, 5 digs; Ashlyn Reinhart 4 kills; Lauren Goetzinger 7 digs; Aubrie Klug 6 digs; Paizley Lange 5 digs)
Southeast Conference Volleyball (9/16 – 9/19)
Southland 0, Spring Grove 3 > 25-13, 25-14, 25-15 (SG: Joelle Halverson 10 kills; Kendal VanMinsel 3 kills, 22 assists, 6 digs, 4 aces; Emerson Ingvalson 4 kills; Izabel Kaufmann 6 digs, 4 aces; Sydney Holland 15 for 15 serving, 2 aces, 4 digs; Jordis Neeley 5 kills, 3 blocks)
Houston 3, Lyle/Pacelli 0 > 25-23, 25-19, 25-23 (H: E. Botcher 16 kills, 16 digs, 5 aces; Olivia Yohe 32 assists, 14 digs; Jorja Meyer 11 kills; Emmie Melbo 5 kills, 15 digs; Cadence Koehler 11 digs; Ellasyn Carrier 17 digs; Taylor Stutzka 5 kills)
Houston 0, #2 in A Mabel-Canton 3 > 25-17, 25-11, 25-5 (MC: S. Morken 3 kills, 35 assists, 12 digs, 20-21 serving, 6 aces; Kinley Soiney 14 kills, 9 digs, 3 total blks; Kailey Ingvalson 7 kills; Tylar Wenthold 5 kills; Hope Erickson 5 kills; Saijal Slafter 5 kills, 9 digs, 12-12 serving, 4 aces; Ava Jacobsen 7 digs. H: E. Botcher 7 kills, 5 digs; O. Yohe 7 assists; E. Carrier 14 digs; E. Melbo 8 digs. Cougars’ senior setter Morken was honored for her 4,000th career set assist. It was M-C’s 20th win to start the season)
Southland 3, Kingsland 2 > 25-18, 19-25, 22-25, 25-21, 9-15 (K: Chloe Drury-DeBoer 19 digs; Paisley Robinson 18 digs; Kayln Stier 5 kills, 9 digs, 3.5 blks; Chantle Reiland 7 kills, 5 assists, 5 digs, 4 blks; Vaira Merkel 4 kills; Jill Moore 10 digs. Kingsland (2-6, 2-13) gave SEC-West leader Southland (6-2, 6-2) a battle)
Lyle/Pacelli 0, Grand Meadow 3 > 25-19, 25-9, 25-12 (GM: Gracie Foster 14 kills, 16 digs, 3 aces; H. Hendrickson 31 assists, 5 digs; Cheyenne Bakken 13 digs; Kendall Jack 8 kills; Lauren Queensland 6 kills, 6 digs; Haylie Paul 7 kills, 5 digs; Rylee Schaufler 3 kills, 6 digs)
Spring Grove 3, Lanesboro 0 > 25-21, 25-18, 25-14 (SG: E. Ingvalson 11 kills; J. Neeley 9 kills; J. Halverson 6 kills, 11 digs, 16-16 serving, 3 aces; K. VanMinsel 6 kills, 28 assists, 8 digs; Hailey Normann 6 kills; S. Holland 12 digs; I. Kaufmann 13 digs. L: Ellie Howard 12 digs; Jensyn Storhoff 14 assists, 3 aces; Sari Rein 5 kills; Taylor Hanson 5 kills, 5 blks)
Glenville-Emmons 0, LeRoy-Ostrander 3 > 25-5, 25-13, 25-13 (L-O: Benita Nolt 14 kills, 6 digs; Brooke Jasper 6 kills, 14-15 serving, 3 aces; Miranda Nagel 4 kills, 14-16 serving, 6 aces; Kaci McKenzie 3 kills, 10 digs; Meah Stevens 23 assists, 5 digs; Maria Almaraz-Nolt 6 digs)
LeRoy-Ostrander 0, Spring Grove 3 > 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 (SG: J. Halverson 11 kills, 13-14 serving, 4 aces, 4 digs; J. Neeley 7 kills, 3 aces; K. VanMinsel 19 assists, 5 digs; H. Normann 4 kills; I. Kaufmann 7 digs, 12-13 serving, 3 aces; S. Holland 17-18, 2 aces. LO: M. Stevens 17 assists, 5 digs; K. McKenzie 4 kills; B. Jasper 5 kills, 5 digs; M. Almaraz-Nolt 4 kills, 6 digs. The Cardinals are 4-4 in the SEC, 7-9 overall)
Lyle/Pacelli 0, #2 in A Mabel-Canton 3 > 25-9, 25-6, 25-8 (M-C: S. Morken 3 kills, 25 assists, 7 digs; K. Soiney 13 kills, 6 total blks; H. Erickson 5 kills; T. Wenthold 5 kills; Lydia Vatland 22-22 serving, 4 aces; S. Slafter 3 kills, 15-15 serving, 3 aces; A. Jacobsen 7 digs)
Grand Meadow 3, Houston 0 > 25-21, 25-22, 25-15 (GM: L. Queensland 7 kills, 20 digs, 15-16 serving, 4 aces; H. Hendrickson 21 assists, 9 digs, 14-15 serving, 4 aces; C. Bakken 16 digs; G. Foster 5 kills, 9 digs; R. Schaufler 4 kills; H. Paul 4 kills; K. Jack 7 kills. H: E. Botcher 6 kills, 12 digs; O. Yohe 15 assists, 7 digs; J. Meyer 4 kills, 6 digs; E. Melbo 10 digs; E. Carrier 8 digs; C. Koehler 7 digs; Jaden Woodard 4 kills. Houston is 3-5 in the SEC, 6-11 overall)
Non-Conference Volleyball (9/16 – 9/21)
Cannon Falls 0, #2 in AA Chatfield 3 > 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 (C: Jaelyn LaPlante 15 kills, 5 digs; Harper Goldsmith 29 assists, 7 digs; Trindy Barkeim 11 kills, 10 digs; Cora Bicknese 6 kills, 12 digs, 3 aces; Hannah Tweten 20 digs. Game was resumed from a season-opener suspended per a warm, humid gym. It was a re-match a 1AA semi last year won by CF 3-2)
Fillmore Central 3, Rochester-John Marshall 0 > 25-13, 25-5, 25-11 (FC: Kyla Hellickson 5 assists, 13 digs, 4 aces; Lauren Dahly 10 assists, 5 digs; Ella Dahly 6 kills, 9 digs; Brooklyn Simon 6 kills; Izzy Nagel 5 kills; Katelyn Scheevel 6 kills; Aubrey Daniels 10 assists, 4 digs, 3 aces)
Fillmore Central 0, Stewartville 3 > 20-25, 21-25, 17-25 (FC: L. Dahly 8 kills, 7 assists, 5 digs; K. Hellickson 19 digs; Annika Mensink 5 kills; K. Scheevel 5 kills; I. Nagel 6 kills; A. Daniels 15 assists, 8 digs; E. Dahly 3 kills, 11 digs)
Pine Island 0, Chatfield 3 > 25-15, 25-17, 25-14 (C: J. LaPlante 17 kills; C. Bicknese 12 kills; H. Goldsmith 4 kills, 32 assists, 4 digs, 17-18 serving, 2 aces; T. Barkeim 6 kills, 19-19 serving, 4 aces; H. Tweten 18 digs, 8-9 serving, 3 aces. The Panthers (11-4) entered as one of two teams in Section 1AA with 10-plus wins alongside Triton (10-5). Heading into the week, Chatfield and PI were #1 and #2 in the 1AA QRF)
Waukon Tourney (Lanesboro went 4-2, beating Riceville 2-0 (21-18, 21-12), MFL-Mar Mac 2-0 (21-16, 21-13), Postville 2-0 (21-16, 21-17), and Waukon 2-0 (25-23, 23-21) while losing to North Crawford 1-2 (21-16, 19-21, 10-15) and Crestwood 0-2 (14-21, 13-21). Riceville leaders; Jensyn Storhoff (11 assists, 10 digs, 5 aces), Taylor Hanson/Sari Rein/Chloe Miller (4 kills), Ellie Howard (7 digs). MFL-Mar Mac leaders: Storhoff (17 assists, 17 digs), Hanson/Jentrey Scheiber (5 kills), Howard 17 (digs). Postville leaders: Storhoff (12 assists, 10 digs, 5 aces), Schreiber/Hanson (4 kills), Howard 9 digs. North Crawford leaders: Storhoff (17 assists, 7 digs), Sari Rein (7 kills), Ava Rein (4 kills, 11 digs), Howard (16 digs). Crestwood leaders: Storhoff (7 digs))