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Volume 1 Issue No. 1 September 12 2018-2019

“Tyus put on a show!”

Champlin Park serves notice

By Bruce Strand

Champlin Park High School, which opened in 1992, has never captured a state championship in any sport. The Rebels 2018 volleyball team is serving notice that they might be the group to change that.

The Rebels, led by four Division I recruits, and riding four consecu-tive state tournament trips, stands 10-0 in matches and 25-0 in games through Tuesday, sweeping four ranked teams along the way.

Coached by John Yunker, they were ranked second at the outset of the behind Lakeville North, which re-turns five starters from the 2017 state champion team, but took over the top spot after toppling the Pan-thers 25-10, 26-24 on Saturday in the finals of a power-packed tour-nament hosted by Southwest State in Marshall.

In that event they also swept No. 3 ranked Lakeville South and Class 2A’s No. 3 ranked Kasson-Mantor-ville. This Tuesday, the Rebels dis-patched No. 8 East Ridge at home.

“We always come in with high goals Rebels: Continued on Page 2

MINNESOTA NOTEBOOK

*Waterville-Elysian-Morristown ends conf. rival’s 18-year streak*Lakeville North loaded again*Spiker sparks North Branch

*Club team won nationals

and play as hard as we can and see where it takes us,” said eighth-year coach Yunker, when asked how high his team is aiming this fall. “We’ve been pretty successful the last few years and are getting stron-ger all the time.”

The Rebels were state runners-up in 2016 (losing to Eagan in the finals) and have won one or two matches in each of their four straight trips. They took fourth in 2014, third in

Rebels clear No. 1 after sweeping the 2-3 ranked teams

Rebel players celebrating a kill against East Ridge are (from left) Lauren Clark, Hannah Prasky, Kaitlyn Weimerskirch (6),

Emma Schmidt, Jordan Stalpes (13) and Izzy Ashburn.

2015, and fifth last year.

The Rebels feature a pair of Big Ten-bound stars in 5-11 setter Izzy Ashburn, signed by Wisconsin, and 6-0 outside hitter Lauren Clark, signed by Penn State.

“Izzy is a very special setter in her fourth yer on the varsity,” Yunker said. “She is super athletic, and we had her hitting last year, too, but she

Pacesetter

Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Volleyball News September 12

Continued from Page 1

Rebels: chance to be school’s first state champion team

COACHES ASSOCIATION STATE RANKINGS(Records through Sept. 8)

CLASS 3A

1. Champlin Park 9-02. Lakeville North 7-13. Lakeville South 6-14. Eagan 6-15. Minnetonka 12-26. Shakopee 6-27. Stillwater 3-28. East Ridge 5-49. Northfield 5-210. Forest Lake 4-3

CLASS 2A

1. Stewartville 9-02. North Branch 3-13. Kasson-Mantorville 6-24. Marshall 6-25. Concordia Academy 5-16. Southwest Christian 3-17. Kenyon-Wanamingo 2-18. Sauk Centre 10-19. Watertown-Mayer 7-210. Belle Plaine 1-1

CLASS 1A

1. Waterville-Elysian- Morristown 9-02. Minneota 9-13. New Life Academy 5-24. Mayer Lutheran 2-35. Caledonia 3-36. Wabasso 2-17. Pine River-Backus 4-1-18. Mabel-Canton 11-19. Rush City 2-110. Ada-Borup 8-0

is back to setting only this year. Her volleyball IQ is through the roof.”

Clark, who previously played for Armstrong, gave the Rebels a fierce new dimension when her family moved into the district for her senior year. This summer, she was the only Minnesotan named to the USA Volleyball 18-1 Open Division all-tournament team.

“Lauren is very dynamic, as you can see,” Yunker said, “with her leaping ability and how hard she hits the ball. She is a great kid and works hard. She’s very excited to be here and she fits in really well.”

Two other seniors set for D-1 programs are 5-6 libero Kaitlyn Weimerskirch (Illinois State) and 6-1 outside hitter Emma Schmidt (Northern Iowa).

Weimerskirch has manned the L slot since her freshman year. “She always has great platform control, and just gets better and better,” Yunker said. The versatile Schmidt has played left and ride side and did some setting last year. “We’ve asked a lot of her and she can do it all,” the coach said.

Sami Hilley, 5-11 junior middle, started to “take off” in early October last season, Yunker said, and her development has been outstanding. Defensive specialists reliable in back row play and serving are junior Megan Panser and senior Nicole Thompson, both 5-6. Two juniors adding to the attack are 6-0 Hannah Prasky, “coming into her own” in her third varsity season, and 5-10 Jordan Stalpes, who became a go-to player at times last year and this season makes teams pay when they game-plan for other people. “Jordan lets them know, I’m here, too,” Yunker said.

The Champlin community, which had a pair of No. 1 ranked boys basketball teams lose the state finals in 2017 and 2015, is taking notice of this latest serious state contender, in a sport where Minnesota truly excels over most other states. The Rebels’ 3-0 sweep of East Ridge drew a nice crowd on Youth Night. “We had a great atmosphere in here tonight,” Yunker said.

Lauren Clark is a new weapon for the Rebels this year.

Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Voileyball News September 12

Panthers remain a 3A powerBy Bruce Strand

With five starters back from a state championship team, Lakeville North is loaded for an another deep run, even though the Panthers have lost two other powers early.

“Our varsity returners are very motivated for the 2018 season,” acknowledged coach Jackie Richter, “and for their impact to be one of strong leadership, commit-ment and excellent work ethic.”

Elizabeth Juhnke and Macy Winter, senior outside hitters, are fourth-year starters. It’s the third year starting for senior setter Amelia Wherland and junior libero Hallie Wolfe, and third varsity year for senior MH Tori Thompson.

“Individually and collectively, they work very hard, love the game, accept challenges in both practice and matches and respect one another’s strengths,” Richter said about her veteran group. Juhnke has committed to South Dakota, Winter to the Naval Academy, and Thompson to South Dakota State. Winter and Juhnke made the all-state tournament team.

The Panthers were an obvious pick for No. 1 in Class 3A at the outset and won seven matches before being knocked from the top spot by Champlin Park (see sepa-rate story, Page 1) at Southwest State’s power-packed tournament Saturday, 25-10, 26-24.

That snapped a 22-match win streak by Lakeville North -- and the Panthers then lost again in five games Tues-day to No, 3 ranked Lakeville South.

The Panthers have beaten No. 5 Minnetonka, No. 8 East Ridge and No. 9 Northfield in a brutal early schedule. The East Ridge match was a meatgrinder which they won in five, 24-26, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8 behind 20 kills each by Winter and Juhnke, who also had 22 digs.

Augmenting the veterans are two sophomores, middle blocker Abbey Millner and defensive specialist Izzy Fuerst, and four varsity rookies, junior setter Hannah Nietfeld, sophomore OH Maddy Hornyak, sophmore DS Elia Wheatcraft and freshman right-side Bailey Leeke.

Lakeville North was 32-2 last year, toppling 2016 champion Eagan in the finals. That gave the program three state champions in eight years, under three dif-ferent coaches. Milan Mader retired after coaching the Panthers to the 2010 crown. Walt Weaver coached three seasons and snagged a state title in 2012.

Richter came aboard in 2015. A year-round volleyball coach and mother of three, she was a three-sport ath-lete in Rice Lake (WI) and a rower for the Minnesota Gophers in her playing days. Richter never had a los-ing season in 10 years at Minneapolis Southwest be-fore taking over a Lakeville North program that was in a downswing. She had a humbling 18-42 mark her first two years. The Panthers turned it around with a 21-10 mark in 2016 as the current group was taking hold, then went the distance last fall.

“We treat every year exactly the same. We treat every opponent the same,” said Juhnke, interviewed by Sun Thisweek, their local paper. While North has a bevy of hitters, they take special pride in defense. “We won’t let things go,” Thompson said. “Every ball matters. Every point matters.”

Jackie Richter

Most of the firepower on Lakeville North’s 2017 champion team is back in 2018.


Early laurels for Buccaneers

By Bruce Strand

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A for the first time, snapped one of the longest win streaks in state volleyball history last week.

Bethlehem Academy of Faribault had won 137 consecutive matches in the Gopher Conference over 18 seasons before the Buccaneers stopped the Cardinals 22-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 on Thursday in Waterville.

This was the year for that to happen with B.A. strug-gling after making a coaching change (see separate sto-ry, Page 7). WEM coach Crystal Lamont said, “That is s amazing!” about the Cardinals’ monumental win streak. ”I have so much admiration for the program Franz Boelter built at BA.”

Despite technically being favored against BA this year, the Bucs felt the pressure and committed too many unforced errors (including 10 missed serves) as they dropped game one before gradually taking control — with their typically feisty defense, aggressive serves and some momentum-changing plays at the net.

“The match took a monkey off ours, and the other teams in the conference’s, backs,” Lamont acknowledged. “Their streak was talked about every year.”

Lamont, a former Buc herself (all-conference in vol-leyball, basketball and softball) who teaches physical education and adapted PE, added, “We have a goal to win the conference and there are still six other teams besides BA who are going to have a say in that.”

WEM is ranked first by the coaches association after a returning all their starters from a 24-9 season end-ing with a section finals loss to eventual state champion Mayer Lutheran. The Buccaneers are 10-0 and won their 40th annual WEM Invitational on Saturday.

While WEM had not beaten BA in conference since be-fore 2000, the Bucs did have one rather significant vic-tory over their neighbor in 2015, when both advanced

to the state finals and the Bucs shocked them in five games for the school’s one and only state team title.

Five returning all-conference players are back -- se-nior MeaLea Harmon (right-side hitter, setter), senior Alexis Morsching (outside hitter), junior Delaney Do-nahue (middle hitter), sophomore Toryn Richards (out-side hitter) and senior Morgan Nusbaun (setter). The rotation also includes seniors Shelby Hermel (libero), Addie Atherton (right-side) and Paige Pittmn (setter, right-side); sophomore Trista Hering (middle hitter) and freshman Alex Heuss (middle hitter).

Morsching, close to 1,000 career digs, and Harmon are third-year starters. “MaeLea is our top server and fast-est person. Her serving helps keep the other team out of system and makes things easier on our defense,” said Lamont, adding that the 5-5 Harmon is explosve with her spiking as well. “Alexis is a great defensive player and has become a more consistent hitting threat.”

The Bucs have excellent speed and athletic ability to cover the floor on defense. Harmon placed second in the state 100-meter dash in June, and joined Morsch-ing, Richards and Hermel to place second in the 4x100.

“Our team is known for its grit,” Lamont assessed. “We probably aren’t going to be one of the top offenses but we are going to dig in and do whatever it takes.”

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown is ranked first (a first) and snaps B.A.’s

137-match conference streak

Speed is a prime WEM asset. Four volleyball players were state runner-up in the 4x100

relay in June: Toryn Richards, Shelby Herbel, MaeLea Harmon, Alexis Morsching.

Mankato Free Press


Torrid hitter leads North Branch, eyes

3rd state trip By Bruce Strand

North Branch is ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, in large part because Cianna Selbitschka is back for one last round-up after a super junior season.

On a state runner-up, 29-4 Viking team last season, Selbitschka delivered 527 kills, breaking a school re-cord held by her sister Courtney. The 5-10 outside hit-ter, committed to Minnesota-Duluth, has 1,197 at this writing. She’s hoping for her third state trip with the Vikings, having also gone as a freshman.

“Cianna is explosive and smart, and uses shots to score different ways,” assessed her father and coach, Mike Selbitschka. Selbitschka had 67 kills in the 2017 state tournament as the Vikings beat Watertown-Mayer and Marshall before losing in the finals to Maple Lake. Join-ing her on all-tournament were setter Haley Hadrava, a junior this year, and libero Sophie Linder, who gradu-ated.

The Vikings are 4-1 so far, losing to Forest Lake, ranked No. 10 in Class 3A. They have eight players back who were starters or top subs, and others stepping up.

Hadrava has “great hands,” the coach said. Another powerful attacker is senior Lydia Langevin on the right side. Returning at middle hitter are senior Macy Bombard and junior Emily Benedict. Paige Sheehan, a sophomore who transferred from Cambridge-Isanti, is “a competitor and aggressive attacker.” Juniors Macy

Brodin (defense) and Katie Anderson (MH) have expanded roles this year. New in the rotation are freshman Paige Peaslee, a good leaper, at MH; senior Lizzie Gladitsch (DS), soph Reagan Irons (MH) and the new libero, Kylie Klein, a junior with “great platform and speed.”

Coach Selbitschka, a salesman for ABC Supply Inc. when not coaching, played club volleyball at UMD and stayed on the court with a couple of “middle-age men’s

teams” that won USA national tournaments. He has two kids who’ve both played for him.

Cianna, then a freshman, and Courtney played together in the 2015 state tournament when the Vikings were in Class 3A and placed fifth. Courtney played for Minne-sota-Moorhead two seasons before giving up her spot after an injury. She remains in at MSU and in volley-ball as an assistant to Chad Lien at Moorhead High.

Maple Lake’s winning streak ended at 44 matches when Sauk Centre stopped the Irish 25-17, 25-12 in the semi-finals of the Albany Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 24. The Mainstreeters then beat Morris Area 25-15, 25-15 in the finals.

Maple Lake, state Class 2A champions the last two years, went 36-0 last year, won their last eight matches the year before, and started this season with two wins. After graduating six starters among 10 seniors, includ-

ing three coaches association all-staters, the Irish are 3-3 this season.

Sauk Centre is 11-1 so far. “For the first time in a while, we’ve really got some size,” said Jim Klaphake, head coach, to the St. Cloud Times. That includes 6-1 Mi-chaela Dammann, 5-11 Julia Dammann, 5-10 Page Schwinghammer, 5-10 Nicole Kortan and 5-9 Tori Peschel. Also playing well are two 5-3 athletes, setter Megan Klaphake and libero Reece Ritter.

Sauk Centre (10-1) snaps Maple Lake streak

Cianna Selbitschka broke her sister’s kill record last year with 527.

MN team is 17s national champBy Bruce Strand

Minnesota’s already-strong profile as an incubator of volleyball talent was raised even higher by the North-ern Lights 17-1 club team this summer.

Capping eight months playing together, Northern Lights emerged as champions of the 17-Open Division of the USA Volleyball National Championships held in Detroit.

Kennedi Orr, a 5-11 setter from Eagan, was named MVP of the tournament. Also making all-tournament were outside hitter Kyndra Hansen of Mahtomedi and defensive specialist Mari Hinkle of Rosemount.

The lineup, under coach Adam Beamer, also included outside hitter Christine Graf of Edina; middle blocker Ellie Huseman of Eagan; libero Rachel Kilkelly of Shakopee; outside hitter Jasmine Mulvihill of Lakeville South; middle blocker Blythe Reints of St. Paul Academy; middle blocker Gabby McCaa of Minneapolis Southwest; setter Erika Bute of Alden-Conger; and outside hitter Peyton Seuss of Kasson-Mantorville. Huseman and Kilkelly are Gopher recruits.

“Winning the championship was the best day of my life, so far. The girls on that team are my best friends. They’re like family,” Hansen told the Star-Tribune on a pre-season article on these players all going back with their school teams now.

Northern Lights won three pool play matches, then lost to teams from California and Ohio but still made the top four in this extremely-c o m p e t i t i v e division. They beat Mizuno Dylan of Texas 28-26, 25-17 in the semifinals and Top Select of Florida 25-14, 25-16 in the championship on July 3.

Volleyball, which last year passed basketball as the state’s top p a r t i c i p a t i o n sport among girls, is recognized nationally as one sport where

Minnesota outshines most of the 50 states.

Powerful college programs laced with home-state recruits such as the Minnesota Gophers in Division I and Concordia-St. Paul in Division III are proof of that, along with this club team winning the top division of USA volleyball, and three prep teams ranked by USA Today: Champlin Park at No. 5, Lakeville North No. 10 and Eagan No. 13.

Northern Lights lifts state’s prestige a notch higher

Northern Lights players celebrated after beating a Flor-ida squad in the championship match July 3 in Detroit.

Top left is tourney MVP Kennedi Orr of Eagan.Northern Lights photo


This is the first of four Minnesota Volleyball News editions planned for this season, capped by a state tournament edition. Anyone who would like to suggest a topic for an article may send it to [email protected]


Pacesetter Sports to start playoffs for youth volleyball teams this fall

Pacesetter has conducted youth basketball playoffs since 1993Pacesetter Sports, which has provided the Minnesota Youth Basketball Championship system since 1993, will be providing playoffs for youth volleyball teams in grades 7-8-9 this fall for the first time.

Over 700 teams play annually in the basketball playoffs involving 12 divisions for boys and girls, so a field of nearly 200 is expected for the three volleyball divisions involving girls teams.

Region sites set so far for grades 7-8 include Waseca (Region 2), Marshall (Region 3), Monticello (Region 4), Paynesville (Region 5), and Alexandria (Region 6). The one-day region playoffs will be held on the week-ends of Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. The 7th and 8th grade state championships have been set for Monticello on Sunday, Nov. 4.

The 9th-grade state championship, which will be a one-day tournament with a 16-team maximum bracket, will

also be held in Monticello on Nov. 4, with no regional qualifying.

The 7th and 8th grade teams may try to qualify at more than one regional site. A limit of 16 teams will be accepted at each site. The champion will be invited to the state tournament. Teams with only one loss will be invited to the Minnesota Invitational Tournament (MIT)(also on Nov. 4 in Monticello.)

GUIDELINES -- All teams will play 3 or 4 matches. Teams must be school teams that competed in the fall season. Younger players may play with older teams. Two smaller schools may combine to form a team if the combined enrollment for their high schools is 400 or less for grades 9-12.

Entry forms will be sent next week to every head coach in Minnesota. Teams must register online at www.pacesettersports.net. Email [email protected] for further information.

-- Submitted by Jeff McCarron, Pacesetter director since 1980. E-mail is [email protected].

BA’s great program in transitionBy Bruce Strand

Bethlehem Academy’s loss to Waterville-Elysian-Mor-ristown last week (see Page 40 was no surprise, despite the Cardinals’ 18-year, 137-match winning streak in the Gopher Conference.

The program that’s sent 12 teans to state championship matches started this season 0-8 after their longtime coach, Franz Boelter, lost his position last February after 26 seasons. Boelter compiled a 603-135 record, seven state titles and five runner-up finishes. His final team placed third last fall.

Allegations listed by the school board included “emo-tional mistreatment of athletes” and “lack of concern for all of the players in the program,” which were

staunchly denied by Boelter, two of his former players, and fellow Hall of Fame coach Walt Weaver in a Star-Tribune account of the move.

Players and other students protested at the school. Supporters who started a Facebook group (“Fight for Franz”) told KARE 11 they believed the real reasons was parents upset about a lack of playing time for their daughters.

But the decision stood. Boelter, 66, is now an assis-tant coach at New Prague. The Cardinals interim coach is Tim Schmitz, who was Boelter’s assistant. Mean-while, Ken Trnka, Boelter’s longtime assistant, moved over to WEM, the team that ended the winning streak that he helped to start.


Youth Volleyball2018

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPRegion Playoffs

GIRLS GRADES 7 & 8

1ST ANNUAL

Register Earlylimited space available!

Questions? Call Pacesetter: 320-243-7460 or email: [email protected] / Website: www.pacesettersports.net Follow us!!! Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: Pacesetter Volleyball

All grades refer to the 2018-2019 school year.“Hometown team guideline”

All players on a team must be enrolled in the same school. Smaller schools may combine to form one team if the combined enrollment of their high schools for grades 9-12 is 400 or fewer.

Schools that combine should be from neighboring schools.

Registration Deadline: Friday one week prior to the tournament.

Pacesetter

Region Champions advance to the MN State Championship in Monticello

on Sunday, November 4.

Region Playoff ScheduleTeams may play in more than one region.

Region 1 • TBARegion 2 • Waseca: October 28Region 3 • Marshall: October 21Region 4 • Monticello: October 27Region 5 • Paynesville: October 21Region 6 • Alexandria: October 28Region 7 • TBARegion 8 • Bemidji: October 21

Early Bird Discount $150/team before Sept.30 $160/team after Sept. 30

Enter two or more teams and get an additional $10 off/entry! (Must be entered and paid at the same time to get discount.)

Register online at www.pacesettersports.net 3 Match Guarantee: Matches will be best two out of three 25 point sets, 28 point cap. Third set (if necessary) played to 15 points, 18 point cap. Single elimination from the championship. (Note: Caps are waived in the championship final match only.)

Pacesetter Newsletter Minnesota Volleball News September 12

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS GRADE 9

SITE GRADE DATE Monticello High School 9th Girls November 4

Grade refers to the 2018-2019 school year.“Hometown team guideline”

All players on a team must be enrolled in the same school. Smaller schools may combine to form one team if the combined enrollment of

their high schools for grades 9-12 is 400 or fewer. Schools that combine should be from neighboring schools.

Register Early!16 Team Limit

Questions? Call Pacesetter: 320-243-7460 or email: [email protected] / Website: www.pacesettersports.net Follow us!!! Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: Pacesetter Volleyball

Registration Deadline: Friday, October 26th

Youth Volleyball20181ST ANNUAL

Pacesetter

Register Online at www.pacesettersports.net

Cost:$150/team by Sept. 30$160/team after Sept. 30(multiple team discount available, details online)

3 Match Guarantee. Matches will be best two out of three 25 point sets, 28 point cap. Third game (if necessary) played to 15 points, 18 point cap. Single elimination from the championship. (Note: Caps are waived in the championship final match only.)

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