Warriors Overwhelm Cougars

Sometimes the opponent is just too good. Sometimes a team is just over-matched. Maybe in another place, another time, Mabel-Canton (2-seed, 32-4) volleyball could’ve fared better versus Caledonia (1-seed, 26-5). But for the 2016 1A East sub-section title, in a re-match of last year’s title game, the Warriors exerted their will. A year ago, Caledonia’s downfall, M-C’s windfall, was errors. The Warriors, with all their size, power, and athleticism, hit too long, they hit too short, hit into the net. Such things were big aids in allowing Mabel-Canton to come back from down 2-1 for the 3-2 win (25-18, 23-25, 16-25, 25-18, 15-8). There were far less errors this year. Likely motivated by last year’s loss, Scott Koepke’s group were impressive. All that size, power, and athleticism allotted for a lot of hammering shots down, in, and good, or off blocks, out, and good. It allotted for a strong block that hindered M-C’s offense. The Warriors jumped out 14-5, 14-4, and 19-12 in the three games. M-C battled, but their only leads were 1-0, 2-0, and 2-1 in games two and three. They didn’t even get to 20 in a Warrior sweep (25-18, 25-19, 25-17). Caledonia has been a power, routinely competing for the 1AA East title, the Section 1AA title, before moving down to Class A prior to last year. This year’s group, on top of the size, power, and athleticism, has loads of experience. Fourth-year junior setter Adrianna Reinhart (2 kills, 40 assists, 15 digs, 3 aces) led a strongly balanced offense led by senior cousins Mariah (14 kills, 2 blocks) and Sam Schroeder (8 kills, 7 digs), junior Madisyn Heaney (7 kills, 2 aces), and freshman 6-footer Lydia Lange (8 kills). The latter is the younger sister of former Warrior standout, current Concordia-St. Paul standout, Emma Lange. The Schroeders and Heaney each have a least three years of full-time varsity experience. Coranda Vickerman (6 kills, 10 assists, 10 digs), Savannah Slafter (8 kills, 8 digs), Dakota Delaney (6 kills, 3 blocks), and Kenidi McCabe (12 assists, 11 digs) led the Cougars. M-C (32-5) finishes as 1A East runner-up. It’s their fourth straight 1A East final. Vickerman and Courtney Graves are the Cougars’ lone two seniors. Vickerman concludes a five-year varsity career that saw M-C go 162-22. Graves concludes a four-year career where M-C went 131-16. And in an interesting note, the phrase ABBA (Anyone But Bethlehem Academy) found its somebody. Hayfield, after falling to Faribault B.A. in each of the last three 1A West finals, finally punched through with a 3-1 win (18-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-23). The Warriors then took advantage of the tough turn-around for the Vikings, winning the section title 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-14). It marks only the third time in 15 years somebody other than B.A. represents Section 1A at state (W-K in 2010, FC in 2013).