Minnewaska Lakers

Minnewaska junior Brooklyn Larson puts down a kill attempt against Osakis’ Hayleigh Niehoff on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Eric Morken / Alexandria Echo Press

Lakers look to their super sophs

With one senior, Minnewaska will have a young lineup

BY JOE BROWN | West Central Tribune

GLENWOOD — When the Minnewaska volleyball team takes the court this fall, the Lakers will have one senior helping the rest of the young squad get up to speed.

Fresh off a 6-5 showing in 2020, the Lakers will have to replace key contributors like Avery Hoeper, Kristen Glover, MaKena Panitzke and Brecklyn Beyer.

“We are a team led with a lone senior,” said Minnewaska head coach Michele Johnson, “and the majority will be made up of sophomores who will be working on improving our defense and aggressive serving.”

That solo senior will be middle blocker Brooklyn Larson. Last year, she tallied 47 kills along with 17 digs and nine blocks.

The Lakers also have a trio of juniors in right-side hitter Noa Breckworth, along with defensive specialists Lilly Engebretson and Mikalyn Andreas.

Sophomores are the most represented class for Minnewaska with seven players.

Among those sophomores is Haley Shea, who’ll resume setting duties for the Lakers. In 2020, Shea had a team-best 129 set assists along with 53 digs on the defensive end.

Other sophomores looking for extended roles this fall are outside hitter/defensive specialist Avery Fier and middle blocker Dreya Barsness.

Fier was a team leader in the back row in 2020 with a Laker-best 186 digs. Barsness came up with 28 kills, 52 digs and 10 ace serves last year.

Minnewaska will get the 2021 season underway on Aug. 31 at home with a nonconference contest against Eden Valley-Watkins.