Volleyball: Multiple Squads Win Tourneys

The week in volleyball was highlighted by Spring Grove, Mabel-Canton, and Rushford-Peterson winning weekend tournaments. The Lions and Cougars stayed undefeated. See Hot Shots for the Trojans win.

SG Girls Capture Waukon Tournament Title

The Spring Grove girls remained undefeated with a pair of SEC weeknight wins before seizing the championship at the Waukon Tournament. The Lions overwhelmed visiting Houston 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-8). Each team had a similar number of attacks, but SG outscored the Hurricanes at the net 36-15 and 21-0 from the service line. The Lions served 92% with five servers contributing to 21 aces. Addyson McHugh (10 kills, 1 block, 3 aces, 12 for 12 serving) and Kenadee Gerard (9 kills) had productive efforts at the net along with setter Kendal VanMinsel (24 set assists, 4 kills, 5 aces, 9 for 9 serving). Maggie Lile and Lydia Solum each served 16 for 17 with 5 aces. Houston was led by Sydney Torgerson (7 kills), Jaden Woodward (8 digs), and Lilly Carr (8 assists). After a long road trip out west, the girls pummeled Glenville-Emmons 3-0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-13) with extraordinary 99% serving (73 for 74) with 9 aces. SG outscored their hosts 43-15 at the net with strong performances again by Gerard (14 kills, 1 block, 3 aces) and McHugh (10 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces) in addition to Solum (5 kills), and Katelyn Kraus (4 kills). Lile (16 digs), McHugh (10 digs), and Sydney Holland (9 digs) defended. It was down south on Saturday versus all-Iowa tournament competition at Waukon. In pool play, the Lions rolled past Postville 2-0 (21-9, 21-9) before a more competitive win over Crestwood 2-0 (21-14, 21-18). In the second pool, SG defeated Lansing Kee 2-0 (21-5, 21-7) and MFL/MarMac 2-0 (21-7, 21-16). In the championship pool, the Lions first eliminated host Waukon 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) and claimed the crown in a rematch with Crestwood 2-0 (21-16, 21-17). Tourney standouts included Lile (37 digs), McHugh (39 kills, 3 blocks, 14 aces, 26 digs), Gerard (32 kills, 1 block, 6 aces), and VanMinsel (77 assists, 10 kills, 7 aces). SG improved to 6-0, 12-0. The Lions and M-C (6-0, 12-0) are unbeaten in the SEC.

Cougars Win Second Weekend Tourney, Stay Perfect (18-0)

Mabel-Canton volleyball had a quick but busy week. The Cougars crammed an SEC battle and the tournament at Heritage Christian Academy all into Friday and Saturday. Friday at noon, they took on LeRoy-Ostrander in a special contest for the Cards’ homecoming. L-O was competitive the first set, but M-C rolled from there for the 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-11, 25-8). Sahara Morken (40 assists, 7 digs, 4 aces), Saijal Slafter (12 kills, 5 digs), and Kinley Soiney (12 kills) led the effort. Kailey Ingvalson (8 kills), Sophie Morken (8 kills, 6 digs), MaKenzie Kelly (7 digs) and Lydia Vatland (5 digs, 3 aces) helped. L-O was led by Benita Nolt (5 kills, 8 digs), Kaylee Huff (10 digs), and Jenna Olson (11 assists). The Cougars then trekked to in Maple Grove for a Friday/Saturday tournament. M-C beat the hosts Heritage Christian Academy 2-0 (25-4, 25-5), Fridley 2-0 (25-16, 25-4), and Minneapolis-Patrick Henry 2-0 (25-9, 25-6) in pool play. An eight-team championship tournament then took place. M-C beat Spectrum 2-0 (25-5, 25-9) in the quarters, West Lutheran 2-0 (25-10, 25-14) in the semis, and Hutchinson 2-1 (25-17, 24-26, 15-12) in the finals to claim the title. The set loss to Hutchinson was M-C’s first of the year. It is their second tournament win of the season (Floodwood). Cougar tourney leaders were Sahara M. (153 assists, 29 digs, 51-54 serving, 10 aces), Sophie M. (23 kills, 42 digs, 57-60 serving, 15 aces), Slafter (49 kills, 10 total blks), Soiney (42 kills, 10 total blks), Kelly (38 digs, 73-75 serving, 19 aces), and Ingvalson (21 kills). Slafter had 18 kills against Hutch. Sahara M. is already over 500 assists this season. The #5 Cougars (6-0, 18-0) and #10 Spring Grove (6-0, 12-0) are tied atop the SEC-East.

Gophers Drop Falcons, 

Stays TRC Perfect

On paper, it looked to be a marquee Three Rivers Conference match-up of one-loss teams. Fillmore Central (3-0, 8-1) trekked to take on Chatfield (3-0, 10-1). Molly Thomas’ syoung Gophers notched another impressive early season win. Chatfield got the 3-0 sweep fairly handily (25-22, 25-21, 25-16). They never trailed in game won (led 23-16 at one point). FC was up early in game two, but the Gophers later built a 23-18 lead. Game three saw Chatfield never trail, as they started 13-3. The Falcons had 13 service errors in the match on 61 attempts. Chatfield had seven errors on 74 attempts. FC attempted to serve hard to keep Chatfield out of its offense, to keep hitters like Jaelyn LaPlante (11 kills, 8 digs) and Trindy Barkeim (13 kills, 6 digs) from pounding down shots. The duo did anyway (plus FC gave away points). Frosh setter Harper Goldsmith orchestrated things beautifully (4 kills, 30 assists, 11 digs). Evy Goldmith (5 kills) and Kara Goetzinger (5 kills) chipped in offense. Cora Bicknese (5 assists, 15-15 serving, 10 digs) served and defended. FC was led by junior middle Alyssa Britton (9 kills on .438 hitting). Kammry Broadwater (8 kills), Abby Bothun (5 kills), and Madison Simon (4 kills) added some offense. Aubrie Daniels (27 assists, 9 digs) set and Kyla Hellickson (12 digs) defended. Chatfield’s two “OHs” LaPlante and Barkheim out-killed FC’s two “OHs” Bothun and Broadwater 24 to 13. The Falcon offense struggled to get the ball outside. They have a new setter and Bothun, All-TRC in 2021, is recovering from a basketball injury. The teams hit similarly (Chatfield .209, FC .225) but the Gophers had more attempts (113 versus 89). The Gophers were also credited with just one serve receive error while FC had eight. Team Gopher ended the week by beating St. Charles 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16). LaPlante (17 kills, 11 digs) and Barkeim (13 kills, 10 digs) were again a formidable duo. E-Goldsmith (6 kills) helped on offense. H-Goldsmith (4 kills, 41 assists) set the table. Bicknese (20 digs) and Hinckley (season-high 17 digs) were busy defensively. Six different Gophers each had two service aces (Barkeim, Bicknese, LaPlante, H-Goldsmtih, Hinckley, and Charleigh Larson). Chatfield (5-0, 12-1) and Caledonia (4-0, 8-3) are the only TRC teams left without a league loss. FC (4-1, 9-2) is in third place.

Larks Run SEC 

Win Streak to Five

In the SEC in volleyball, the East Division is where the biggest bruhaha is going to be. Mabel-Canton and Spring Grove and both ranked in state and their two contests will be much anticipated. In the West, Grand Meadow is in control, after winning two more SEC games. They’ve won five straight in league after a season-opening loss to the Cougars. GM first swept Glenville-Emmons 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-9). Lauren Queensland (10 kills, 17 digs) had a double-double to lead the effort. Setter Isabelle Fretty racked up the helpers (30 assists, 7 digs). Rebecca Hoffman (7 kills, 6 digs, 19-19 serving, 4 aces), Sydney Cotten (15 digs), Kendyl Queensland (4 kills, 10 digs), Lexy Foster (6 kills), and Heidi Weiss (5 kills) made it a team effort. Matt Rosaaen’s group then hosted Houston and dispatched with them in three sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-18). The third set ended with runs. Foster served four straight points (GM up 19-14). Sydney Torgerson then scored four straight points (GM up 19-18). Fretty closed out the game serving the final six points. Foster also had a huge 10-point serving run in game two. K-Queensland (14 kills, 6 digs) led the offensive effort. Fretty (31 assists, 6 digs, 18-18 serving), L-Queensland (4 kills, 16 digs), and Cotten (13 digs) were big help. Foster (4 kills, 17-18 serving, 6 aces) and Rebecca Hoffman (8 kills) added ancillary assistance. Houston was led by Torgerson (6 kills, 13 digs) and Lilly Carr (15 assists, 10 digs). Jorja Meyer (6 kills) and Jaden Woodward (5 kills, 7 digs) helped. GM (5-1, 7-4) leads the SEC-West over L-O (4-3, 6-9).