WILLMAR — A young Willmar volleyball squad will be tasked with replacing a sizable part of its recent success.
The Cardinals won their fourth straight Central Lakes Conference title in 2022, going 11-0 in conference play and 24-4 overall. And leading the way was 6-foot-4 outside hitter Sydney Schnichels, who was the 2022 Ms. Baden Award winner as Minnesota’s top senior volleyball player.
With Schnichels now at the University of Minnesota,
Willmar will have to revamp its attack.
“We will be a young team this year, but we will have a lot of experience,” Leah Brogdon said. She is 46-12 over two seasons as Willmar’s head coach.
“This group of girls really want to get better and are gym rats during the offseason. It should be a fun season.”
Along with Schnichels, the Cardinals will try to offset the losses of Allie Rosendahl and Lauren Dirkes.
CARDINALS: Page 21
“This group of girls really want to get better and are gym rats during the offseason. It should be a fun season.”
LEAH BROGDON, HEAD COACH
Thursday, August 24
Volleyball: Game 7:15PM ..................................Marshall
Marshall High School
Soccer: Boys Match 7:00PM ......................Zimmerman
Zimmerman High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ..............Sauk Rapids-Rice
Friday, August 25
Swimming & Diving: Girls Invitational 1:00PM ......Multiple Schools
Willmar High School
Saturday, August 26
Volleyball: Match 1:00PM ..............Byron Public Schools
New Prague High School
Soccer: Girls Match 12:00PM .............Monticello
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Match 1:45PM ..............Monticello
Willmar High School
Tuesday, August 29
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ................Fergus Falls
Willmar High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM Alexandria Area HS
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ...........Alexandria Area HS
Alexandria Area HS
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM ..........................Alexandria Area HS
Alexandria Discovery MS
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM .......................Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls High School
Thursday, August 31
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ..........St. Cloud Apollo
Willmar High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM .............................Brainerd
Brainerd HS
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM .................Brainerd
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM .................................Sartell
Sartell High School
Tuesday, September 5
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM .....................................Sartell
Sartell High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ...................St. Cloud Tech
St. Cloud Tech HS
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM .......St. Cloud Tech
Willmar High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM ...................................Melrose Area
Melrose Area High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ................................Rocori
Rocori High School
Thursday, September 7
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ..................Sauk Rapids-Rice
Sauk Rapids-Rice H.S.
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ............Fergus Falls
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ......................Fergus Falls
FF Kennedy High School - Football Stadium
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM ..................Sauk Rapids-Rice
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ............Alexandria Area HS
Alexandria Area HS
Saturday, September 9
Volleyball: Tournament 9:00AM ............Multiple Schools
Shakopee High School
Tuesday, September 12
Soccer: Girls Game 5:00PM .................................Sartell
Sartell High School
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ....................Sartell
Willmar High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM .................................St. Cloud Tech
St. Cloud Tech HS
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ......St. Cloud Crush
Willmar High School
Thursday, September 14
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM .........................Rocori
Willmar High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ...Sauk Rapids-Rice
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Game 5:00PM .............Sauk Rapids-Rice
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM .................................Brainerd
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ..................Brainerd
Willmar High School
Saturday, September 16
Soccer: Girls Game 1:30PM ...........................Little Falls
LF-Belle Prairie Athletic Complex
Soccer: Boys Game 2:00PM ...................Becker
Willmar High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Invitational 10:30AM ............................West Fargo
Hulbert Aquatics Center
Tennis: Girls Quad 9:00AM ...................Multiple Schools
Big Lake High School
Tuesday, September 19
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ......................Brainerd
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ...Sauk Rapids-Rice
Willmar High School
Thursday, September 21
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM .....................Alexandria Area
Alexandria Area H.S.
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ................................Rocori
Rocori-Blattner Field
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ....................Rocori
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM ............Fergus Falls
Willmar High School
Saturday, September 23
Soccer: Girls Match 1:00PM ....................Becker
Willmar High School
Soccer:
Boys Game 4:00PM .............Alexandria Area HS
Willmar High School
Monday, September 25
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ............Alexandria Area HS
Alexandria Area HS
Tuesday, September 26
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ............St. Cloud Tech
Willmar High School
Soccer: Girls Match 7:00PM .Watertown-Mayer
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ............................Brainerd
Brainerd HS
Swimming & Diving:
Girls Meet 6:00PM .................................Marshall
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM .....................Sartell
Willmar High School
Thursday, September 28
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM ...........................Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM ........St. Cloud Tech
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Game 7:00PM ..................St. Cloud Tech
St. Cloud Tech HS
Swimming & Diving:
Girls Meet 6:00PM ....................................Sartell
Willmar High School
Tennis: Girls Match 4:30PM .....................Rocori
Willmar High School
Monday, October 2
Soccer: Girls Game 6:00PM ........................Hutchinson
Hutchinson High School
Soccer: Boys Game 5:00PM ..........................Little Falls
LF-Belle Prairie Athletic Complex
Tuesday, October 3
Volleyball: Game 7:00PM ...............New London-Spicer
New London-Spicer High School
Soccer: Girls Match 5:00PM ................Big Lake
Willmar High School
Soccer: Boys Match 7:00PM.........Detroit Lakes
Willmar High School
Thursday, October 5
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM .........................Sartell
Willmar High School
Soccer: Girls Game 7:00PM .................St. Cloud Apollo
St. Cloud Apollo HS
Soccer: Boys Game 5:00PM .....St. Cloud Apollo
Willmar High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM ..............Rocori
Rocori High School
Friday, October 6
Volleyball: Invitational 5:00PM ..............Multiple Schools
Saint Michael-Albertville High School
Saturday, October 7
Volleyball: Invitational 8:00AM ..............Multiple Schools
Saint Michael-Albertville High School
Thursday, October 12
Volleyball: Match 7:00PM .......Sauk Rapids-Rice
Willmar High School
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM .....................................Fergus Falls
FF Kennedy School - Pool
Saturday, October 14
Swimming & Diving: Girls True Team 10:00AM ..........Multiple Schools
Willmar High School
Tuesday, October 17
Swimming & Diving: Girls Meet 6:00PM .....................St. Cloud Apollo
Willmar High School
Friday, October 20
Volleyball: Invitational 1:30PM ...............Multiple Schools
Moorhead High School
Saturday, October 21
Volleyball: Invitational 9:00AM ..............Multiple Schools
Moorhead High School
BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune
NEW LONDON — With an abundance of returning starters, the Wildcats have plenty to be excited about for the 2023 season.
New London-Spicer, which was
16-12 in 2022, returns Ava Carlson, Kendra Gerhardson, Dakota Rich, Grace Truscinski, Emma Madison and Ayla Caskey to its roster.
Carlson, a 5-foot-9 junior middle blocker, led the team in hitting efficiency (.370) and was second in total blocks (49) in 2022. She was an
All-Wright County Conference pick.
Gerhardson, a 5-11 senior right-side hitter/setter, has recorded 1,395 set assists and will be the Wildcats’ go-to hitter from the right side.
Rich, a junior at 5-6, will make the switch to the setting position this season. She previously was utilized as a defensive specialist.
Truscinski, a 5-7 junior libero, led the Wildcats with 273 digs and was second in serve aces with 26 in 2022.
Madison, a junior right-side hitter listed at 5-7, had 91 kills in her sophomore season. She will be
utilized on the right side and possibly as an outside hitter on the left.
Caskey, a 5-7 sophomore outside hitter, broke into NLS’ starting lineup midway through her freshman year. She was a part of the Kandi Elite 14-1s volleyball team that earned the program its first national title in June 2022.
“I am excited to see what this year’s team can do,” NLS head coach Tina Peterson said. “They have a lot of potential.”
WILDCATS: Page 5
From Page 4
The Wildcats have a few key losses from a season ago, the biggest being middle blocker Ellary Peterson.
Ellary Peterson was a West Central Tribune All-Area Volleyball Honorable Mention, an All-Wright County Conference selection, the Wildcats MVP and captain in 2022. She led NLS in kills (222), total blocks (100) and serve percentage (96.3).
With the rise of Piper Barney, a 5-11 junior middle blocker, Tina Peterson hopes Barney can fill Ellary Peterson’s
void in blocks as well as fill in on the right side when necessary.
“Piper has worked hard in the off-season and I have seen major improvement,” Tina Peterson said. “I am also excited to see a few other girls — who had starting roles on our JV last season and have worked over the summer — fight for valuable playing time at the varsity level this year.”
Overall, Tina Peterson is optimistic about this year’s group.
“With a little extra hard work and good attitudes, I have no doubt they can be a winning team that can be successful deep into the playoffs,” Tina Peterson said.
Friday,
Game
Game
High School HS Main Gym
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:00PM….Dassel-Cokato
Dassel-Cokato High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:00PM….Litchfield New London-Spicer High School HS Main Gym
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:00PM….Rockford Area Rockford High School
Tuesday, October 17
Game 7:00PM….Central Minnesota Christian New London-Spicer High School HS Main Gym
West Central Tribune
GROVE CITY — With a handful of returners starters and a deep bench, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City head coach Shawna Roemeling is hopeful that the Falcons will have a strong season.
“This will be a very strong team with the most depth we have ever had,” Roemeling said.
ACGC had a 4-18 overall record and a 1-6 record in the Central Minnesota Conference in 2022.
“We are really excited to see what this season will bring,” Roemeling said. “With four returning starters who have been key performers the past few seasons, a strong class of dedicated seniors that have been playing together for a long time and a long list of amazing underclassmen, we feel that this could be a very successful and competitive year.”
The four returning starters for the Falcons are seniors Elli Roemeling, Alayna Schultz and Mikaili Johnson as well as sophomore Ruby Klinger.
Elli Roemeling, a 5-foot-7 middle hitter, led the Falcons with 140 kills and 202 digs in 2022. She was a First Team All-Central Minnesota Conference pick. Schultz is a 5-5 setter. Johnson is a 5-7 outside hitter. Klinger is a 5-9 middle hitter and was named a Second
Team All-Central Minnesota Conference selection after recording 124 kills in her freshman season.
Giselle Grahn, who missed her junior season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, is back alongside senior Macy Elton, who earned a starting varsity spot late in the 2022 season.
“We are going into the 2023 season with amazing leadership from (our) seniors,” Shawna Roemeling said. “They will bring consistency and confidence to the court that will help to shape our season and the program.”
Also in the mix for ACGC is Haley Johnson, Kyla Bierwerth, Taylor Frericks, Kenlie Blom, Avary Bierwerth and Kelsie Blom.
“We have many strengths on this team with some really strong and aggressive hitters, a veteran setter and key servers. We believe one of our biggest strengths will be the chemistry on this year’s team, the experience and our deep bench,” Shawna Roemeling said. “The team’s ability to pass well in order to run the offense is going to play a big part, but we definitely feel we have the passers to do this. To be competitive in our conference and section, we will need to focus on minimizing errors, having a strong defense, a fast offense and aggressive serving.”
Saturday, August 26
Scrimmage 9:00AM .....................................Multiple Schools Lakeview High School (Cottonwood)
Thursday, August 31
Game 7:00PM ......................................................Maple Lake Maple Lake High School
Friday, September 8
Game 7:00PM ......................Browerville-Eagle Valley Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School
Friday, September 15
Game 7:00PM .......................................................USA
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School
Friday, September 22
Game 7:00PM ................................Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School
Friday, September 29
Game 7:00PM ...........................................West Central Area West Central Area High School
Friday, October 6 **Homecoming
Game 7:00PM .......................Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School
Friday, October 13
Game 7:00PM .................................................................KMS KMS High School
Wednesday, October 18
Game 7:00PM .................................................Benson Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School
Check
BROOTEN — Belgrade-BrootenElrosa is looking to reload on firepower in hopes of returning to the state tournament.
Three of the Jaguars’ top attackers from a season ago — Ava Mueller, Abby Berge and Allison Dingmann — have graduated. An outside hitter, Mueller was a Class A All-State, All-Central Minnesota Conference and All-Area selection who is now at the University of Jamestown. Berge, an outside hitter, and Dingmann, a middle hitter, were both All-CMC second-teamers.
“We have some key losses from last season that have been staple players for us for several seasons,” said BBE head coach Alanna Hunter, who is 58-17 in four seasons as head coach. “However, we also have some great returning players and I am excited to see how these players step up when given the opportunity.”
the Jaguars were 26-8 overall last season and split the CMC with Eden Valley-Watkins at 6-1. BBE, the Section 6A winner, opened state with a fourset win over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River. The Jaguars lost to Minneota
in three sets in the semifinals, then finished fourth after a five-set loss to Mabel-Canton in the third-place match.
Brooklyn Fischer hopes to provide a spark up the middle for the Jaguars. A 5-foot-9 middle hitter, Fischer was a first team All-CMC pick a season ago. She put up 279 kills (.221 hitting percentage), 279 digs, 73 blocks and 68 ace serves.
“Brooklyn has a great swing,” Hunter said. “She is a smart player that sees the court well and uses that to score points.”
Adley Hagen is another returning starter. A 5-8 outside hitter, she’ll look to replace some of the lost offense from a season ago. Hunter is also looking for 5-8 sophomore Kacey Fischer to provide a boost down the line.
“Kacey has great ball control with every skill,” Hunter said. “She moves well on the floor to put herself in good position to play the ball.”
Another All-CMC first teamer is back to move the ball at the net. Sophomore Kylie Weller resumes her role at setter after tallying 893 assists, 273 digs and 41 ace serves in 2022.
“Kylie earned a starting position partway through the season last year and continued to prove she deserved that position,” Hunter said. “She does a great job adjusting to each hitters’ needs.”
Anna Jaeger is poised to be BBE’s veteran leader in the back. She’ll help replace the loss of last season’s libero, Harley Roering.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune BBE sophomore Adley Hagen, 5, and junior Brooklyn Fischer, 4, go for a block on KMS’ Taylor Haats during a Section 6A-South mach on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 at Brooten.
Make
320.254.8211
www.bbejaguars.org
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
▲ The Jaguars of BBE pump each other up before taking to the court against the Wolverines of MACCRAY in Brooten on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
⊲ BBE sophomore Kylie Weller gets under the ball to bump it over the net during the Class A state quarterfinals against BGMR on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
Scrimmage TBD…Alexandria Area
Alexandria Area High School
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
Scrimmage 4:00PM…Willmar
Willmar High School
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29
Match 7:15PM …Pine River-Backus
Pine River-Backus High School
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31
Match 7:15PM…MACCRAY
MACCRAY High School
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Match 7:00PM…New London-Spicer
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Match 7:00PM…Holdingford
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Invitational TBD…Marshall Marshall High School
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Invitational TBD…Marshall Marshall High School
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Match 7:00PM…Kimball Area
Kimball High School
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Invitational TBD…Crosby-Ironton
Crosby-Ironton High School
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Match 7:15PM…KMS
KMS High School
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Match 7:00PM…ACGC
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Match 7:15PM…Parkers Prairie Parkers Prairie High School
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Match 7:00PM…Eden Valley-Watkins
Eden Valley Watkins School
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3
Game 7:00PM…Hancock
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
Match 7:00PM…Maple Lake
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
Invitational 9:00AM…Multiple Schools Alexandria Area H.S.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9
Game 7:00PM…Brandon-Evansville
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
Match 7:00PM…Royalton High School
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17
Match 7:00PM…Paynesville Area
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
Sponsored by: Belgrade Brooten Elrosa School
West Central Tribune
BENSON — Bringing back a trio of starters, the Benson volleyball team has its eyes set on climbing up the West Central Conference standings.
In 2022, the Braves went 0-13 in the West Central and 4-17 overall. Ainsley Anderson is back for her second season as head coach.
Benson lost three of its starters
from last season in Libby McGeary, Lilly Slaughter and Ellie Krusemark. McGeary was named the West Central Conference’s most valuable defensive player and was an All-West Central selection.
But the Braves have their three returners — junior Mya McGeary, senior Kaylin Grube and senior Presley Nygaard — back at the net.
Mya McGeary resumes her role as a
setter. She’ll share those duties with sophomore Julia Claussen, according to Anderson.
“I believe they are going to do a great job running our offense,” Anderson said.
Then there’s Grube, a three-year starter, who plans to use her size as a middle hitter.
“She is 6-(foot)-1 and is huge at the
net for us when it comes to hitting and blocking,” Anderson said.
The Braves’ season kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Minnewaska. In the midst of a 23-match conference losing streak, Benson’s last West Central win came against Minnewaska in five sets on Sept. 7, 2021.
The home opener is Tuesday, Sept. 5 against BOLD.
Area/ Chokio-Alberta Benson High School
Tuesday, October 10
Tribune
▲ Braves head coach Ainsley Anderson talks to her team during a match against the Montevideo Thunder Hawks on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at Benson High School.
⊳ Braves sophomore setter Mya McGeary
the ball in the air during a match against the Montevideo Thunder Hawks on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at Benson High School.
Match 7:30PM………………….West Central Area WCA Secondary School, Barrett
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:30PM………………….Montevideo Benson High School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 6:00PM………………….Sauk Centre Sauk Centre High School
Check
Schedule sponsored by:
www.benson.k12.mn.us 320-843-2710
West Central Tribune
OLIVIA — After graduating 10 seniors last fall, BOLD head coach Baylie Kubesh feels the Warriors are in position for another successful season.
BOLD had a 22-5 record in 2022. The Warriors were 11-3 in the West Central Conference. Sauk Centre won the WCC with a 14-0 record and the Mainstreeters were 25-3 overall.
Unlike Sauk Centre, BOLD enters the season ranked in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll. The Warriors enter as the No. 8 team in Class A.
“We have a good core group coming back and that’s really nice,” Kubesh said. “It’s very different going from a group
that was senior heavy to now we’re going to be looking at a lot of younger girls or girls who haven’t had varsity time.”
BOLD will be led by senior captains Delaney Tersteeg and Kenzie Visser.
Tersteeg, who was an All-WCC Honorable Mention last season, is a 5-foot-5 libero. Kubesh is looking for her to “step up even more” after the Warriors were senior heavy in the back row a season ago.
Visser, at 5-11, is making “a big switch” this season. She will be utilized as an outside hitter after spending the last couple years as a middle hitter.
BOLD: Page 22
Friday, August 18 Scrimmage 8:00AM….Buffalo Lake-Hector BOLD High School Large Gym
Monday, August 21
Scrimmage 4:00PM….Willmar Willmar High School
Saturday, August 26 Game 11:00AM….Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial New Prague High School
Tuesday, August 29
Match 7:30PM….Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta BOLD High School Large Gym
Thursday, August 31
Match 7:30PM….Minnewaska Area BOLD High School Large Gym
Tuesday, September 5
Tuesday, September 12
Match 6:00PM….Sauk Centre Sauk Centre High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:30PM….West Central Area BOLD High School Large Gym
Saturday, September 16
Tournament 9:00AM….Multiple Schools Wabasso High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:30PM….Melrose Area Melrose Area High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:30PM….Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:30PM….Benson BOLD High School Large Gym
Thursday, September 28
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:30PM….Sauk Centre BOLD High School Large Gym
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:30PM….Melrose Area BOLD High School Large Gym
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Match 6:00PM….Benson Benson High School
Match 6:00PM….Minnewaska Area Minnewaska Area High School
Thursday, September 7
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Match 7:30PM….Montevideo BOLD High School Large Gym
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Match 7:30PM….West Central Area WCA Secondary School, Barrett
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Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM….Multiple Schools Montevideo High School
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Thursday, October 5
Match 7:30PM….Montevideo Montevideo High School
Schedule sponsored by:
PRINSBURG — Central Minnesota Christian School is hungry for success this fall.
“Being in the gym with the girls this first week has shown that this team is really looking to improve upon last year,” Bluejays first-year head coach Laura Rosen said. “Their hard work and willingness to adapt to a new coaching philosophy has been really exciting. Their aggressiveness by all levels is the model in which we are looking to direct for the future of the program.”
CMCS is fresh off an 8-19 season. The Bluejays were 2-10 in the Camden Conference.
But with four key seniors, CMCS is hopeful for a better season in 2023.
CMCS has two returning starters — seniors Lilly Mellema and Janessa Erickson. Mellema
BY MICHAEL LYNE
West Central Tribune
WILLMAR — Under secondyear head coach Rebecca Westin, Community Christian School will have plenty of new faces on the court this fall after graduating five seniors who propelled the Eagles to a successful season in 2022.
CCS had a 17-0 record last year and was the Christian Athletic League year-end tournament champion.
Westin has two returning starters who will look to help the Eagles find similar success in the 2023 season.
Sophomores Lexi Nelson and Grace Strom are CCS’ pair of returning starters. Nelson is a 5-foot-9 middle hitter and Strom is a 5-7 setter.
The Eagles have three upperclassmen looking to help make an impact. They are senior Anna Lindgren, a 5-4 defensive specialist, senior Jennah Malako, a 5-8 opposite hitter, and junior Kaiya Norbie, a 5-6 outside hitter.
Joining Nelson and Strom as underclassmen is Margo Klaassen, a sophomore middle hitter at 5-11, and Faith Westin, a freshman outside hitter at 5-6.
“We are a young, new team filled with hard working, dedicated and talented girls,” Rebecca Westin said. “I’m excited to see it all come together and what they can accomplish as a team.”Rebecca Westin will be assisted by Les Graham, Bella Mulder and Brittany Berge. This marks her third year coaching at CCS. She was the junior high coach in 2021.
is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter who’s coming off an All-Camden season. Erickson is a 6-1 middle hitter.
Avery Duininck and Lauren Taatjes are also seniors looking to make an impact for the Bluejays.
“These seniors have really been pushing in practice and you can see that they really want to improve upon their previous season,” Rosen said. “I look to them to drive the team, both on and off the court.”
Two sophomores join the four seniors as players to watch, according to Rosen. That is Emmi Braem and Carrie Mulder.
“Emmi’s unique athletic ability on the right side as a hitter and a setter is something to keep an eye on,” Rosen said. “This year Carrie is going to be filling a versatile role for us, one we know she is capable of. We are looking forward to her being a leader on the court.”
Tuesday, September 19
Friday, September 22
Match 4:00PM….Cambridge Christian Cambridge Christian School
Monday,
Tuesday, September 26
Match 5:30PM….Immanuel Lutheran Community Christian School High School Gym
Friday, September 29
Match 7:15PM….Rochester Home Fuad Mansour Sports Complex
Tuesday, October 3
Match 4:30PM….Faith Christian Faith Christian School
Thursday, October 5
Match 4:30PM….St. Cloud Christian St. Cloud - Youth for Christ (YFC)
Saturday, October 7
Tournament TBD….Fourth Baptist Christian Fourth Baptist Christian School
Friday, October 13
Match 6:00PM….Valley Christian-Osceola Community Christian School High School Gym
West Central Tribune
DAWSON — Dawson-Boyd enters the 2023 season with an experienced group that is itching for more success after an 8-18 overall record and a 3-9 finish in the Camden Conference.
“We are excited to start this year with a seasoned group of girls,” said Hailey Gritmacker, who is in her second season as the Blackjacks’ head coach. “We have many upperclassmen that want a spot on the court. The kids are working hard to create a competitive environment daily. We also have some younger players that are hungry for more.”
Dawson-Boyd returns five starters from 2022, including All-Camden Conference pick Ayiana Hastad. She is a 5-foot-9 senior middle hitter.
Hayley Anderson, a 6-0 middle hitter, and Allison Estling, a 5-5 libero, are also seniors who will return to the starting lineup.
Then there are juniors Reese Johnson and Bailey Bothun. Johnson is a 5-10
outside hitter and Bothun is a 5-9 setter/right-side hitter. Both of them, along with Hastad, are players to watch, according to Gritmacker.
“Ayiana has a dominant presence in the front and back row and was a statistical leader in every category,” Gritmacker said. “Reese is a powerful outside who looks to get more playing time this year. Bailey has been a utility player for the past three years, filling the team’s gaps. We are excited to have her be a setter for us as this is a big leadership role.”
As the Blackjacks look forward to the season, they will be without DawsonBoyd graduates Kate Dahl and Chelsie Husby.
“We could always rely on (Kate) to find a way to get a kill,” Gritmacker said. “After running a 5-1 with (Chelsie) for a couple years, we are working on filling the gap. She was motivated to do better and always praised those around her.”
Tuesday, August 22
Scrimmage 5:00PM…Wabasso
Scrimmage 6:00PM…Red Rock Central Wabasso High School
Saturday, August 26
Tournament TBD…Multiple Schools
Adrian High School
Tuesday, August 29
Match 7:15PM…Buffalo Lake-Hector
Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:15PM…Hancock
Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:15PM…Canby
Canby High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:15PM…Yellow Medicine East Central Minnesota Christian School
Saturday, September 16
Tournament TBD…Multiple Schools Wabasso High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:15PM…Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Tracy Area High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:15PM…Ortonville
Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:15PM…Minneota Minneota High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:15PM…KMS Public Schools
Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:15PM…Renville County West Central Minnesota Christian School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:15PM…MACCRAY
MACCRAY High School-Clara City
Friday, October 6
Tournament TBD…Multiple Schools
Southwest Minnesota State University
Schedule sponsored by:
Saturday, October 7
Tournament TBD…Multiple Schools
Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:15PM…Dawson-Boyd
Dawson Boyd
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:15PM…Lac Qui Parle Valley
Central Minnesota Christian School
Monday, October 16
**Senior Night
Match 7:15PM…Lakeview
Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:15PM…New London-Spicer New London-Spicer High School
KERKHOVEN — KerkhovenMurdock-Sunburg will have a lot of
fresh faces this fall.
The Fighting Saints, who had a 12-17 record in 2022, graduated eight seniors.
Under head coach Joquel Molenaar,
who enters her 12th season at KMS, the Fighting Saints are welcoming the opportunities ahead.
“We are rebuilding after having a large senior class graduate last year,” Molenaar said. “We have lots of new faces at the varsity level, but all excited about the opportunity in front of them.”
Olivia Noble will be tasked with helping lead KMS. The 5-foot-6 setter and All-Camden Conference Honorable Mention will serve as one of the Fighting Saints’ captains. She recorded 662 set assists in 2022.
“She is both an offensive and defensive threat on the court. She has an effective attack, dumping and attacking from the setting position,” Molenaar said. “Olivia’s leadership experience will be a key this year in guiding this team in practice and games.”
Sophia Oerter and Savannah Petersen each return as starters alongside Noble. Oerter, a 5-7 senior outside hitter, had 63 kills and 32 digs a season ago.
Petersen, a 5-6 junior middle hitter, recorded 46 kills and 23 digs in her sophomore campaign.
Molenaar is excited to see what Eben Overcash, Emily Wagner and Abby Holtkamp bring to the Fighting Saints’ half of the court in 2023.
Overcash, a senior at 5-7, will be a starter at the middle hitter position. She will also be a captain.
“She is an aggressive player with a lot of potential to be a leading scorer on the team,” Molenaar said. “She will be someone to watch this year.”
Wagner, a 5-6 junior outside hitter, will play all the way around the court.
“She is able to do it all,” Molenaar said. “(Emily can) attack, block and play effective defense in the back row.”
Holtkamp, a sophomore, will be the starting libero and it is her first year playing the position.
“She has great ball control and is able to read the ball well and put herself in position to be successful,” Molenaar said. “She will also be a positive force on the court for the team.”
▲ KMS head volleyball coach Joquel Molenaar talks to her team during a timeout in a Section 6A-South match against BBE on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 at Brooten.
⊳ KMS’s Madelyn Luft, 8, hits the ball against BBE blockers Ava Mueller, 14, and Brooklyn Fischer during a Section 6A-South match on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 at Brooten.
Friday, August 18
Scrimmage 9:00AM…Multiple Schools
Minnewaska Area High School
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:15PM…Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley
Graceville
Thursday, September 7
Match 7:15PM…MCC
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM…Multiple Schools Montevideo High School
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:15PM…Lakeview Lakeview High School (Cottonwood)
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:15PM…Canby
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Monday, September 18
Match 7:15PM…Hancock
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:15PM…Yellow Medicine East Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:15PM…Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:15PM…Ortonville Ortonville High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:15PM…MACCRAY
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:15PM…KMS Public Schools
Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:15PM…Lac Qui Parle Valley Lac Qui Parle High School
Friday, October 6
Tournament TBD…Multiple Schools Marshall
Monday, October 9
Match 7:00PM…Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City ACGC High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:15PM…Central Minnesota Christian Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:15PM…Renville County West Renville County West High School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:15PM…Minneota Dawson-Boyd High School Gymnasium
West Central Tribune
MADISON — Lac qui Parle
Valley head coach Brooklyn
Gould feels the Eagles are heading in the right direction as they look to build on their success from a season ago.
The Eagles, who had a 13-9 overall record and went 6-6 in the Camden Conference, return plenty of experience.“The LQPV program is climbing in a positive way,” said Gould, who enters her second season as head coach. “We worked really hard this summer to better our skills and knowledge to prepare for the season. Our values and morals have grown into a positive and competitive environment.”
Seniors Isabel Gerdes and Lexi Wollschlager will look to lead the way for LQPV. Both players were All-Camden Conference selections in 2022.
Gerdes, a 5-foot-5 defensive specialist, is coming off a junior campaign where she led LQPV with 390 digs. That effort led her to be named the Eagles’ defensive and overall MVP.
The hope is Gerdes, who suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament during girls basketball season, should be ready to go. She has to get cleared by doctors before she can return.
Wollschlager, a 5-7 outside hitter, led the Eagles with 166 kills and was named LQPV’s offensive MVP in 2022.
Claire Borstad, Jalyn Lee and Brandi Meyer will serve as LQPV’s captains.
Borstad, a 5-6 senior defensive specialist, led the Eagles with 39 ace serves. Lee, a 5-11 junior middle hitter, ranked second on LQPV with 156 kills in 2022. Meyer, a 5-9 junior outside hitter, will be playing all the way around after she had 127 kills in her first year on varsity last season.
Also back for the Eagles are senior setter Kaitlyn Kittelson and sophomore middle hitter Caleigh Conn.
LQPV’s key roster losses from 2022 are Rylee Lund,
Ayanna Gipson, Paige Meyer and Sheridan Evenson.
“We believe that the sky is the limit and with everything we do, we take strides to reach our goals,” Gould said. “We are looking forward to another great season and the girls and coaches are working hard to get our team to their max limits.”
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
⊲ Lac Qui Parle Valley head coach Brooklyn Gould talks with her team before taking the court against Renville County West High School in Renville on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
▼ LQPV’s Ayanna Gipson, center, celebrates with her Lac Qui Parle Valley teammates after scoring a point against Renville County West High School in Renville on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
Friday, August 18
Scrimmage 8:00AM….B.O.L.D. Olivia
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:30PM….Paynesville Area KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Thursday, September 7
Match 7:30PM….Renville County West KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM….Browerville Browerville High School
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:30PM….Minneota Minneota High School
Thursday, September 14 Match 7:30PM….Lakeview KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Monday, September 18
Match 7:30PM….Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:30PM….Canby Canby High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:30PM….Yellow Medicine East
KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:30PM….Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:30PM….Central Minnesota Christian Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:30PM….Dawson-Boyd
Dawson-Boyd High School
Friday, October 6
Tournament 5:30PM….SMSU SMSU
Saturday, October 7
Tournament 9:00AM….SMSU SMSU
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:30PM….LQPV
KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:30PM….MACCRAY
MACCRAY High School - Clara City
Monday, October 16
Match 7:30PM….Perham
KMS High School (Kerkhoven)
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:30PM….Ortonville
KMS High School Varsity Competition Gym
Thursday, October 19
Tournament 9:00AM….Underwood Underwood High School
Schedule sponsored by:
West Central Tribune
LITCHFIELD — There will be plenty of freshness for Litchfield this fall.
The Dragons enter the 2023 season after graduating five seniors who played big minutes, including All-Wright County Conference selections Olivia Holmgren and Greta Hansen.
Litchfield was 16-13 last season with a 4-3 conference record.
“After a successful 2022 season, led by a large group of experienced seniors, we will be looking at a lot of players and a lot of options to see what our 2023 team identity will be,” said Darin Swenson, who enters his 19th season as Litchfield’s head coach. “We have a lot of young players who are hungry to prove themselves and put themselves in a position to be contributors on this year’s varsity squad.”
Litchfield will be led by its two returning starters: Morgan Falling and Asha Ehlers.
Falling is a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter and Ehlers is a 5-8 junior outside hitter.
“Morgan is an all-around player that can impact the game from any position,” Swenson said. “Asha is a powerful hitter that is looking to have a breakout year.”
More seniors on the roster include: Eva Sohl, a 5-8 middle/right-side hitter; Carli Gabrielson, a 5-7 middle hitter; Izzy Culbertson, a 5-6 defensive specialist.
Alongside Ehlers, there are three more juniors: Anna Sorgatz, a 5-6 defensive specialist; Allison Kargas, a 5-5 defensive specialist; Grace Holmgren, a 5-2 setter.
Rounding out Litchfield’s varsity lineup are five sophomores: Chloe Kowalczyk, a 5-5 setter; Kierra Lease, a 5-10 middle hitter; Kelsey Palmer, a 5-8 right-side/outside hitter; Lydia Schultz, a 5-5 outside hitter.
“Having a large number of players that can play multiple positions, we will have the opportunity to try some unconventional lineups to give us a different look for the 2023 season,” Swenson said. “It is going to be an exciting season to see this group of Dragons develop from match-to-match.”
Friday, August 18
Scrimmage 8:30AM ��Multiple Schools
Annandale High School
Tuesday, August 22
Scrimmage 9:00AM ��Multiple Schools
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School
Friday, August 25
Tournament 9:00AM �Multiple Schools
Rush City High School
Tuesday, August 29
Game 7:00PM ������������������Hutchinson
Hutchinson High School
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:00PM ������������������Maple Lake
Maple Lake High School
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:00PMKimball Area
Litchfield High School Gym
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:00PM �������������Rockford Area
Rockford High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:00PMPaynesville Area
Litchfield High School Gym
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:00PMDassel-Cokato
Litchfield High School Gym
Saturday, September 23
Invitational 8:30AM ����Multiple Schools
Dassel-Cokato High School
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:00PM �������������������Annandale Annandale High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:00PM �����Glencoe-Silver Lake Glencoe-Silver Lake High School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:00PM ����Eden Valley-Watkins Eden Valley Watkins School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:00PMWatertown-Mayer
Litchfield High School Gym
Saturday, October 7
Invitational 9:00AM ����Multiple Schools Alexandria Area H�S�
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:00PM �����New London-Spicer New London-Spicer High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:00PMHoward Lake-Waverly-Winsted
Litchfield High School Gym
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:00PMPrinceton Litchfield High School Gym
Monday, October 23
Match 7:00PMSt Cloud Cathedral
Litchfield High School Gym
Sponsored
West
Central TribuneCLARA CITY — Under firstyear head coach Tory Brouwer, MACCRAY made a deep playoff run and finished with a 22-11 overall record in 2022.
The Wolverines advanced to the Section 3A-North championship, where they lost to a Minneota team that won the Class A state championship in five sets over Mayer Lutheran.
As year two gets underway for Brouwer, MACCRAY will look to lock up the Camden North again.
The Wolverines will be led by Brielle Janssen and Emma Thein.
Janssen, a 6-foot sophomore middle blocker, was a West Central Tribune All-Area Volleyball Honorable Mention and a All-Camden Conference selection in 2022. She had 272 kills, 266 digs, 49 blocks and 30 service aces as a ninth-grader.
Thein is a 5-11 sophomore right-side hitter.
“Both players played a key
role as freshmen and continue to improve through the offseason,” Brouwer said. “Brielle continues to elevate her game and is demonstrating great strides as an all-around player. Emma has demonstrated improved technique in skill with off-season work as well.”
A key roster loss for the Wolverines from a season ago is Sydney Thein. She was a twotime West Central Tribune AllArea Volleyball player, who was named the Camden Conference MVP in 2022.
Sydney Thein finished her career with 1,842 set assists, 1,193 digs and 1,167 kills. She is at Southwest Minnesota State University to continue her volleyball career.
And as Sydney Thein exits, there will be plenty of opportunity for younger players to make an impact for the Wolverines in 2023.
“We will be a young team with the opportunity for more players to step up,” Brouwer said.
Wednesday, August 23
Scrimmage 6:00PM………………….Multiple Schools Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, August 31
Match 7:15PM…..…..…CGB - Clinton Grace Beardsley
LQPV High School
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:30AM………………….Multiple Schools Lakeview High School (Cottonwood)
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:15PM………………….Ortonville Ortonville High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:15PM………………….Minneota
LQPV High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:15PM………………….Lakeview Lakeview High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:15PM………………….Canby
LQPV High School
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:15PM………………….Yellow Medicine East Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:15PM…………......…….Renville County West LQPV High School
Monday, October 2
Match 7:15PM…………..........................……….Benson Benson High School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:15PM……………....................…….MACCRAY LQPV High School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:15PM………………..............….Dawson-Boyd LQPV High School
Monday, October 9
Match 7:15PM……........................………….Wheaton LQPV High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:15PM……………….......….KMS Public Schools KMS High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:15PM……………….Central Minnesota Christian Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:15PM………………….Tracy-Milroy-Balaton LQPV High School
GLENWOOD — Minnewaska returns its entire roster from a season ago and it is safe to say Lakers head coach Michele Johnson is stoked for what is to come in 2023.
“We’re really looking forward to a fantastic season,” said Johnson, who enters her sixth season as the head coach. “To have the same team back — there’s some new faces — it should be a good season.”
The Lakers had a 13-15 overall record and an 8-6 record in the West Central Conference in 2022. But, Minnewaska finished the year winning five of its last eight games.
The Lakers will look to carry that lateseason success into 2023 with a roster that has plenty of continuity and familiarity.
Minnewaska has a senior trio in Dreya Barsness, Avery Fier and Haley Shea who all return as all-conference picks.
Barsness, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, had team-bests of 339 kills and 40 ace serves a season ago. She was second on the Lakers with 280 digs.
Fier, a 5-7 middle hitter, ranked first on
Minnewaska with 315 digs. She also had 200 kills.
Shea, a 5-6 setter, recorded 849 set assists and 217 digs.
“Dreya brings a lot of firepower on the outside and a lot of energy to the court,” Johnson said. “Avery’s so smart. She can maneuver that ball and find a hole in the court in the front row and she will go after everything in the back row.”
Shea is taking on the “we is greater than me” mentality for the 2023 season. She is giving up three rotations in the front row because the Lakers needed a bigger blocker up front, according to Johnson.
That blocker is Addyson Kath, a 5-10 junior who missed the 2022 season. She is back after having a partial hip surgery and a knee surgery.
“Haley is a captain and has been our starting setter for three years,” Johnson said. “She gave that up because she knew we needed a bigger block up (at the net).”
Also looking to make an impact on Minnewaska’s season includes
but are not limited to: seniors Miaya Guggisberg and Brooklyn Meyer, junior Dacia Fleury and freshman Haillie Schultz.
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
Minnewaska middle/outside hitter Avery Fier tips the ball over the net during a Section 3AANorth semifinals match against the Paynesville Bulldogs on Thursday at New London-Spicer High School in New London.
Thursday, August 17
Scrimmage 1:00PM…Minneota
Minneota High School
Monday, August 28
Match 7:30PM…Montevideo
Montevideo High School
Thursday, August 31
Match 7:15PM…BelgradeBrooten-Elrosa
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:15PM…Adrain-Ellsworth
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:15PM…Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:15PM…Ortonville
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Saturday, September 16
Tournament TBD…Wabasso
Wabasso High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:15PM…Minneota
Minneota High School
Friday, September 22
Tournament 4:30PM…Southwest
Christian
Midwest Volleyball Warehouse
Saturday, September 23
Tournament 9:00AM…Southwest
Christian
Midwest Volleyball Warehouse
Tuesday, September 26
Match 7:15PM…Canby
Canby High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:15PM…Dawson-Boyd
Dawson-Boyd High School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:15PM…Lac Qui Parle Valley
Lac Qui Parle Valley High School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:15PM…Central
Minnesota Christian MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Friday, October 6
Tournament 5:30PM…SMSU
SMSU
Saturday, October 7
Tournament 9:00AM…SMSU
SMSU
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:15PM…Renville County West Renville County West High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:15PM…KMS Public Schools MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:15PM…Yellow Medicine East MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Thursday, October 19
Match 7:15PM…Lakeview MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
West Central Tribune
junior Emmie Koenen. She had 78 kills and 25 blocks in ‘22.
MONTEVIDEO — The Montevideo volleyball team will need to adjust to life without a pair of staples.
Thursday, August 17 Scrimmage 1:00PM…Minneota Minneota High School
Monday, August 28
Match 7:30PM…Montevideo Montevideo High School
Thursday, August 31
Match 7:15PM…BelgradeBrooten-Elrosa MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Friday, September 22
With seven returning players, the Thunder Hawks must try to replace the production left by middle hitter Avery Koenen and setter Tenley Epema as they try to improve from a 5-17 record in 2022.
Tournament 4:30PM…Southwest Christian
Tuesday, September 5
Match 7:15PM…Adrain-Ellsworth MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:15PM…Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:15PM…Ortonville
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Saturday, September 16
Tournament TBD…Wabasso
Wabasso High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:15PM…Minneota
Minneota High School
Another senior, Addie Olson, will try to fill in for Tenley Epema at setter. Tenley registered 531 set assists and 17 ace serves. Olson was second on the team with 26 set assists in 17 matches played.
Midwest Volleyball Warehouse
Saturday, September 23
Tournament 9:00AM…Southwest Christian
Midwest Volleyball Warehouse
Tuesday, September 26
Koenen was a two-time All-Area pick and was the West Central Conference’s Most Valuable Hitter. She put up 1,008 career kills, including 327 as a senior. She will continue her athletic career on the North Dakota State University’s women’s basketball team.
Match 7:15PM…Canby Canby High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:15PM…Renville County West Renville County West High School
Friday, August 18
Scrimmage 8:30AM….Multiple Schools
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Tuesday, September 26
Match 6:00PM….Montevideo
Montevideo High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:15PM…KMS Public Schools
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Tuesday, October 17
Teagan Epema patrols the back row at libero. She was second on the team last season with 156 digs. Justine Buseman and Taya Weber, both seniors, will also shore up the defense as defensive specialists.
Match 7:15PM…Yellow Medicine East MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:15PM…Dawson-Boyd
Dawson-Boyd High School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:15PM…Lac Qui Parle Valley
Saturday, August 26
Scrimmage 10:30AM….Concordia College
Concordia College-Moorhead
Tuesday, August 29
Match 6:00PM….Benson
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Thursday, August 31
Thursday, September 28
Match 6:00PM….B.O.L.D.
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:30PM….West Central Area
WCA Secondary School, Barrett
Saturday, October 7
Invitational 9:00AM….Alexandria Area
Thursday, October 19
Match 7:15PM…Lakeview
MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Through the efforts of Williams, Nelson, Emmie and Teagan, head coach John Mader is hoping that’ll spark an improvement for the Thunder Hawks.
Lac Qui Parle Valley High School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:15PM…Central
Minnesota Christian MACCRAY High School (Clara City)
Match 7:30PM….B.O.L.D. BOLD High School
Tuesday, September 5
Match 6:00PM….Montevideo
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Thursday, September 7
Match 7:30PM….West Central Area
Alexandria High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 6:00PM….Melrose Area
Melrose Area High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 6:00PM….Sauk Centre
To offset her loss, Montevideo has three returning hitters in the mix. A pair of seniors will occupy the outside hitter spots in Avery Williams and Maren Nelson. Williams finished second on the team with 115 kills and 165 digs, and was third with 22 ace serves. Nelson had 28 kills and 26 digs. Taking a spot in the middle is
Friday, October 6
Tournament 5:30PM…SMSU
SMSU
“These players have shown a great deal of growth athletically as well as having last season’s experience to help build leadership skills,” said Mader, who is entering his 24th season as a coach.
Saturday, October 7
Tournament 9:00AM…SMSU SMSU
Montevideo kicks off the season on Monday, Aug. 28 at home against MACCRAY. They follow that with a West Central Conference tilt at Melrose on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Check the schools website for a updated events list
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Saturday, September 9
Invitational 9:30AM….Multiple Schools
Lakeview High School
Tuesday, September 12
Match 6:00PM….Melrose Area
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Thursday, September 14
Match 6:00PM….Sauk Centre
Sauk Centre High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 6:00PM….Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Morris Area Elementary School
Thursday, September 21
Match 6:00PM….Benson Benson High School
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Tuesday, October 17
Match 6:00PM….Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta
Minnewaska Area High School Main Gymnasium
Thursday, October 19
Invitational 9:00AM….Fergus Falls FF Kennedy School - Gold Gym
Check
www.minnewaska.k12.mn.us
Schedule sponsored by:
West Central Tribune
PAYNESVILLE — The Paynesville volleyball team was on the precipice of school history last season.
Going 21-6 during the season, the Bulldogs made it to the Section 3AA championship match before falling to Pipestone at the R/A Facility in Marshall.
With a pair of All-Central Minnesota Conference picks back in the mix, Paynesville is looking to make another deep postseason run.
Looking to pace the offense is senior outside hitter Emma Flanders. An All-CMC pick, the 5-foot-10 Flanders was second on the team in 2022 with 290 kills. She also finished with a team-best 243 digs (9.0 per match), 47 ace serves and 21 ace blocks.
Flanders will try to fill the void left by the outgoing Kyleigh Tangen. She led the team with 378 kills and 54 ace serves while ranking second in digs (237) and third in blocks (38). Tangen is playing collegiately at Division II
University of Sioux Falls.
“(Emma’s) a strong all-around player,” said Bulldogs head coach Nicole Humbert. “(She has a) fast arm swing with the ability to place the ball anywhere on the court.”
The other All-CMC returner is setter Rayna Spanier. A 5-7 junior, Spanier dished out 720 set assists. She also had 182 digs.
“She has the ability to make her hitters look good,” Humbert said of Spanier.
Senior Maddie Frieler will solidify the middle at middle blocker. Standing at 5-10, Frieler had a team-best 40 blocks in ‘22. She also tallied 37 kills.
On defense, junior Kaydence Roeske fills in at libero for the departing Emma Stanley. Roeske, who is verbally committed to play women’s hockey at Minnesota State-Mankato, scooped up 172 digs. She also put up 28 ace serves and had 103 kills while seeing time as an outside hitter.
“(Kaydence) has speed and knowledge of the game,” Humbert said.
Monday, August 28
Game 7:30PM…MACCRAY
Montevideo High School MHS Gym
Tuesday, August 29
Match 7:30PM…Melrose Area
Melrose Area High School
Thursday, August 31
Match 6:00PM…Sauk Centre
Sauk Centre High School
Tuesday, September 5
Match 6:00PM…Minnewaska Area
Minnewaska Area High School
Thursday, September 7
Match 7:30PM…B.O.L.D.
B.O.L.D. High School
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM…Multiple Schools
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Tuesday, September 12
Match 7:30PM…Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta
Morris Area High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:30PM…Benson
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:30PM…West Central Area
WCA Secondary School, Barrett
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:30PM…Melrose Area
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Tuesday, September 26
Match 6:00PM…Minnewaska Area
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Friday, September 29
Match 2:00PM…Sauk Centre
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Tuesday, October 3
Match 7:30PM…Redwood Valley
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:30PM…B.O.L.D.
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:30PM…Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:30PM…Benson
Benson High School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:30PM…West Central Area
Montevideo H.S. MHS Gym
West Central Tribune
RENVILLE — Fresh off its best regular season in 15 years, the Renville County West volleyball team hopes to keep that momentum rolling this fall.
The Jaguars went 15-12 last season.
It was the first time RCW had a winning record since going 23-6 in 2007.
It placed second in the Camden Conference North division at 7-5 (5-1 within the North).
Helping in the team’s upswing is having five starters back in the lineup.
“This should help us compete in the Camden Conference,” head coach Rich Schrupp said. “The players have been very dedicated this past summer to getting better and spending time in the weight room.”
Rachel Jakel is back at outside hitter after being named All-Camden and the team MVP last season. The 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter had 266 kills and 297 digs in 2022.
Also back on the outside is Emily
Lippert. A 5-8 senior, Lippert finished with 120 kills, 223 digs and a team-best 26 ace serves. The pair will try to offset the loss of Ellie Wulf, who had 113 kills and 310 digs as a season last season.
The Jaguars also bring back a pair of middle blockers. Avery Roxberg, a 6-2 junior, finished with 186 kills and 57 solo blocks in a sophomore campaign that earned her an all-conference honorable mention nod. Next to Roxberg is Coraley Bryan. A 5-11 senior, she finished with 120 kills and 30 solo blocks Facilitating the offense is returning setter Johanna Braun. A junior, Braun finished 2022 with 495 set assists.
Sophomore Holly Hinderks and junior Ava Thompson will both vie for time at outside hitter. A pair of seniors — Laila Ridler and Hannah Savig — will patrol the back row as defensive specialists.
“A strength of this team is we have many different players that can attack the volleyball,” Schrupp said. “A key for us this season will be serve-receive and defense.”
Friday, August 18
Scrimmage 9:00AM……………...Multiple Schools Paynesville Area High School
Friday, August 25
Invitational 9:00AM……………....Multiple Schools
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School
Tuesday August 29
Match 7:00PM…………Yellow Medicine East Paynesville Area High School
Thursday, August 31
Match 7:00PM………………....Dassel-Cokato
Paynesville Area High School
Tuesday September 5
Match 7:30PM………………................….KMS Kerkhoven High School
Thursday, September 7
Match 7:00PM…………………......Maple Lake Paynesville Area High School
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM……..…Multiple Schools Montevideo High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 7:00PM…………..Eden Valley-Watkins Eden Valley Watkins School
Monday, September 18
Thursday, September 28
Match 7:00PM………………….Holdingford Holdingford High School
Thursday, October 5
Match 7:00PM………………….Kimball Area Paynesville Area High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 7:00PM………………Eden Valley-Watkins Paynesville Area High School
Thursday, October 12
Match 7:00PM……...............…Atwater-CosmosGrove City Paynesville Area High School
Monday, October 16
Match 7:00PM………………….Redwood Valley Paynesville Area High School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 7:00PM………………….Belgrade-BrootenElrosa Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary School
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
⊳ Renville County West sophomore middle blocker Avery Roxberg hits the ball over the net as MACCRAY senior outside Jordan Thein atttempts the block the ball during a match against the MACCRAY Wolverines on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at MACCRAY High School in Clara City.
Match 7:00PM……………Osakis High School Paynesville Area High School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 7:00PM……………….............Litchfield Litchfield High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 7:00PM……….Royalton High School Royalton High School
Monday, September, 25
Match 7:00PM…………New London-Spicer Paynesville Area High School
⊳ Renville County West junior libero Laila Ridler prepares to receive a serve during a match against the MACCRAY Wolverines on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at MACCRAY High School in Clara City.
Schedule sponsored by:
Yarmon
GRANITE FALLS — Yellow Medicine East has focused its efforts on team building throughout the offseason as it prepares to play against stiff competition in the Camden Conference.
For YME head coach Alexis Peters, she hopes it will pay dividends for the upcoming season.
“Our program has put in a lot of hard work this summer,” said Peters, who enters her second year as YME’s head coach. “We put a big focus on team building and improving our team chemistry, both on and off the court.”
The Sting enter the 2023 season following a 7-17 record in 2022, which included a 4-8 record in the Camden Conference.
YME has six key roster losses, including Ruby Bones, Aria Peters and Hannah Stark.
Bones, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who was a 2022 West Central Tribune All-Area Volleyball selection, will soon begin her first year with the Minnesota State-Moorhead volleyball program. Aria Peters, a 5-6 setter, will play for the St. Cloud Technical and Community College volleyball program. Stark,
a 5-10 outside hitter, is committed to playing women’s basketball for Briar Cliff University.
But the Sting have retained senior Kiara Sakry, who will transition to outside hitter after spending three years as a libero. She was named YME’s defensive player of the year in 2022 after leading the team in digs with 318.
“Our big strength for us this season will be our defense,” Alexis Peters said. “We have scrappy defenders that have a ton of grit in them and our defense at the net is just as strong.”
Alongside Sakry, there are senior setter Riley Streich and sophomore middle hitter Alana Almich who will be in the mix.
Streich will serve as YME’s setter after spending the past three seasons as a defensive specialist. Almich is a “smart and vocal player” for the Sting.
Sakry, Streich and Almich will serve as YME’s leaders.
“We will have a mixture of experienced and inexperienced players at the varsity level, but the talent these newcomers have is amazing,” Peters said. “Even though we lost a handful of great athletes last season, I know this year’s group will be just as great.”
From Page 2
Helping in that effort is returning setter Ellery DeBoer. A 5-10 freshman, DeBoer tallied 737 set assists (9.3 per set), 132 digs, 65 kills, 18 ace serves and 14 blocks. She also competed in the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program’s Indoor Spring Training Series in Washington, D.C. in May.
Along with DeBoer, Willmar brings back another All-CLC performer in outside hitter Gretchen Volk. She is a 5-8 junior.
Brielle Ogdahl is another returning starter. She 5-11 sophomore outside hitter was an All-CLC honorable mention in ‘22.
Beyond the returning players, Brogdon sees a quartet of Cardinals ready to step into bigger roles this season.
On offense, that includes a pair of middle hitters in junior Avery Olson and freshman Nora Mitteness. Olson stands at 5-8 and Mitteness at 5-11.
“(Avery) played as an outside hitter last year on JV and has had some experience from past years in the middle,” Brogdon said. “Her length and quick arm swing will
make her hard to defend.”
On Mitteness, Brogdon added: “Nora started towards the end of the season last year for us as an eighth-grader. She has improved her volleyball skills and has gotten a lot faster at running quick sets in the middle.”
Brogdon is also looking for strong play in the back from defensive specialists Lexi Owens and Hannah Magnuson. Owens is a 5-3 senior and Magnuson a 5-5 junior.
“Lexi played libero last year for our JV team and is a scrappy back-row player. She will help us be a strong defensive team,” Brogdon said. “Hannah was
a setter for us on the JV team. Her quickness and ability to read the ball well is a huge skill that she has.”
Willmar opens the season against defending Class AAA state champ and top-ranked Marshall on Thursday, Aug. 24 at Marshall.
The CLC schedule begins on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at home against Fergus Falls. Over the past three seasons, the Cardinals are 31-1 in conference play. Two CLC teams — Alexandria (sixth) and Rocori (seventh) — are ranked in the top 10 in Class AAA in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason poll.
the first set of a nonconference match against Marshall on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 at the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School.
Sponsored by
Thursday, August 31
Game 7:30 ������������������������������������������� Rock Central Lamberton
Thursday, September 7
Game 7:30PM �������������������������KMS Public Schools Kerkhoven
Saturday, September 9
Tournament 9:00AM ���������������������Multiple Schools Montevideo High School
Tuesday, September 12
Game 7:30PM ������������������������Yellow Medicine East Granite Falls
Thursday, September 14
Game 7:30PM �����������������Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Tuesday, September 19
Game 7:30PM �������������������������������������������Ortonville Ortonville
Thursday, Sept� 21 **HOMECOMING
Game 7:30PM ���������������������������������Minnesota
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Saturday, September 23
Tournament TBD���������������������������Multiple Schools Arlington, MN
Tuesday, September 26
Game 7:30PM �����������������������������������Lakeview Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Thursday, September 28
Game 7:30PM ��������������������������Lac Qui Parle Valley Lac Qui Parle Valley High School
Tuesday, October 3
Game 7:30PM �������������Central Minnesota Christian Prinsburg
Friday, October 6
Tournament TBD���������������������������Multiple Schools Marshall
Saturday, October 7
Tournament TBD���������������������������Multiple Schools Marshall
Monday, October 9
Game 7:30PM ������������������������������������Wabasso
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Tuesday, October 10
Game 7:30PM ����������������������������������MACCRAY
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Thursday, October 12
Game 7:30PM ����������������������������Dawson-Boyd
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
Monday, October 16
Game 7:30PM �����Buffalo Lake-Hector High School Hector
Tuesday, October 17
Game 7:30PM ����������������������������������������Canby
Renville County West High School Gold Gym
“Our seniors this year have stepped up tremendously and they’re all really on board,” Kubesh said of her six seniors. “They’re already hungry to get after it and make a big run in the playoff season — that’s something that they’ve already been talking about.”
Alongside Tersteeg, Ady Knake and Layla Pfarr are names to look out for, according to Kubesh.
Knake, a 5-9 senior outside hitter, had 309 kills, 202 digs, 38 ace serves and 32 blocks in her junior season. She was an All-WCC pick and BOLD’s Team Offensive Player of the Year.
Pfarr, a 5-5 junior setter, recorded 838 set assists, 197 digs, 42 kills and 37 ace serves in her sophomore year. She was the WCC Setter of the Year and was an All-WCC selection.
“We’re not going to be the most outstanding, hard hitters that you’re going to see, but we have the potential to be one of the smarter teams,” Kubesh said. “We’ve got so many girls with a high volleyball IQ.”
And while the program has 32 players listed on the MSHSL website, Kubesh plans to keep her varsity roster low in numbers.
“I want it to be a smaller, connected group,” Kubesh said. “That’s going to be a big thing — just making sure that they’re always connected.”
West Central Tribune Brandi Meyer, 10, and the rest of the LQPV volleyball team react after scoring a point during the first set of a Camden Conference match against DawsonBoyd on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 at the Dawson Community Center.
Joe
Thursday, August 24
Match 4:45PM ........................Wabasso Yellow Medicine East High School
Tuesday, August 29
Match 4:45PM ...........................Paynesville Paynesville High School
Friday, September 8
Tournament 5:00PM ......................Marshall
SMSU
Saturday, September 9
Tournament TBD ............................Marshall
SMSU
Tuesday, September 12
Match 4:45PM ....Renville County West Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, September 14
Match 4:45PM Central Minnesota Christian Central Minnesota Christian School
Tuesday, September 19
Match 4:45PM ................Dawson-Boyd Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, September 21
Match 4:45PM .............KMS Public Schools
KMS High School
Tuesday, September 26
Match 4:45PM .....Lac Qui Parle Valley Yellow Medicine East High School
Thursday, September 28
Match 4:45PM ..............................Ortonville Ortonville High School
Tuesday, October 3
Match 4:45PM ...................................Canby Canby High School
Thursday, October 5
Match 4:45PM ..............................Minneota Minneota High School
Friday, October 6
Tournament 5:30PM ..............................TBA Marshall Senior High School
Saturday, October 7
Tournament TBD ....................................TBA Marshall Senior High School
Tuesday, October 10
Match 4:45PM ....Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Yellow Medicine East High School
Friday, October 13
Match 4:45PM .......................Lakeview Yellow Medicine East High School
Monday, October 16
Match 4:45PM .Westbrook/ Walnut Grove Westbrook-Walnut Grove School
Tuesday, October 17
Match 4:45PM ...MACCRAY MACCRAY High SchoolClara City
Schedule sponsored by:
www.wctrib.com
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