The Minnewaska Area volleyball team is set to open up the season Tuesday (tomorrow) at Benson followed by the home opener against BOLD, Thursday.

The Lakers are coached by Michele Johnson, who is assisted this year by Caleb Greene, Jackie Skoglund and Kari Nelson.

Minnewaska Area has seven of its first nine scheduled competitions at home this fall, including three-straight Sept. 1, 6 and 8 and four-straight on Sept. 15, 17, 20 and 22.

“We are a young team this year without any seniors,” coach Johnson said.  “Most of the team played together on varsity for two or more years so we will rely on our past experience and leadership.”

The Lakers went 7-20 overall last year and 2-10 in the WCC to place sixth of the seven league teams.  West Central Area has joined the WCC this season, making for an 8-team league.

Among the key graduates for the Lakers is Brooklyn Larson.

This year’s varsity Minnewaska Area volleyball roster includes juniors Haley Shea (S), Avery Fier (MH/OH), Dreya Barsness (OH), Miaya Guggisberg (MH/RS), Brooklyn Meyer (DS), Grace Zenk (DS) and Amanda Lorhe (DH); juniors Addy Kath (RS/MH) and Dacia Fleury (OH); and eighth-grader Haillie Schultz (S/RS).

This year’s captains are Avery Fier, Haley Shea and Dreya Barsness.  Over the last two seasons (2020 and 2021), Fier has 28 service aces with a 96 serving percentage, 161 kills and 472 digs, while Shea has 20 services aces and 96 serving percentage, 34 kills, 670 set assists and 240 digs, and Barsness has 38 ace serves, 166 kills and 178 digs.

The Minnewaska Area JV volleyball team includes sophomores Josephine Kopp, Mataya Mix, Kendra Wilmes and Payton Andreas; ninth-graders Carly Jergenson, Ava Staples and Emma Poegel; and eighth-graders Brooklyn Noyes, Emma Hellermann, Eliana Marthaler and Olivia MacDonald.

•  Sauk Centre won last year’s WCC volleyball title with a 12-0 league mark, followed by BOLD (10-2), Melrose Area (7-5), Montevideo and Morris Area-CA (both 5-7), Minnewaska Area (2-10), and Benson (1-11). 

In the postseason, Minnewaska Area fell to Eden Valley-Watkins in the opening round, 3-0.  Jackson County Central beat Paynesville in five games for the Section 3AA title.

At state, Jackson County Central beat Annandale in three games and also defeated Mounds Park in four games in the semifinals before losing to Sauk Centre in the Class AA championship, 3-1.

Sauk Centre should be among the league favorites again this season.