The Laker volleyball team closed out the 2022 season with an overall record of 13-15 and a WCC mark of 8-6 to place third of eight teams.

Sauk Centre won this year’s conference race with a perfect 14-0 record, followed by BOLD (11-3), Minnewaska Area (8-6), Melrose, Morris Area-CA and West Central Area (all 7-7), Montevideo (2-12) and Benson (0-14).

Minnewaska Area, which does not graduate any players from its team, was seeded sixth in the Section 3AA Tournament.  The Lakers beat Eden Valley-Watkins in four games and also edged NLS in five games before falling to Paynesville in four games for the sub-section title.

“When we lost the third and fourth games against NLS, it was a true testament to our mindset of believing in ourselves and never giving up,” coach Michele Johnson said.  “Defense first has been our focus all season.  We are not a tall team so we need to rely on extra efforts defensively.  To see it come to fruition was fantastic.”

Paynesville went on to lose to Pipestone for the Section 3AA title and a berth at state.

The Lakers went 1-2 during the Minnewaska Invitational, 0-4 at the Alexandria Invite, losing all four matches 2-1, and also went 2-2 at the Fergus Falls Invite for a record of 3-8 in invitationals and 10-7 in best-of-five matches, including five wins in a row from Sept. 20-Oct. 6.

Minnewaska Area went 7-20 overall last year and 2-10 in the WCC before turning things around this season. 
“It was a great run in the playoffs,” coach Michele Johnson said.  “The last time the Lakers were in the sub-section finals was three years ago and prior to that, 19 years ago.  We’re trying to make a difference one step at a time.

“I can’t say enough about the support from the student section and community.  Our team feeds off that kind of energy.  I was very pleased with the way our season went.  The girls have a love for the game and have put in a lot of time and energy.”

•  This year’s 12-member varsity Minnewaska Area volleyball roster for the final match included juniors Haley Shea (S), Avery Fier (MH/OH), Dreya Barsness (OH), Miaya Guggisberg (MH/RS), Brooklyn Meyer (DS) and Grace Zenk (DS); sophomores Addy Kath (RS/MH) and Dacia Fleury (OH); ninth-grader Emma Poegel (S/DS); and eighth-graders Haillie Schulz (S/RS), Emma Hellermann (MH) and Olivia MacDonald (S).  Captains for the team this year were Avery Fier, Haley Shea and Dreya Barsness.

•  Members of the Minnewaska Area JV volleyball team were sophomores Mataya Mix, Kendra Wilmes, Payton Andreas and Josephine Kopp; ninth-graders Carly Jergenson and Ava Staples; and eighth-graders Brooklyn Noyes and Eliana Marthaler.

Members of the C-squad team are junior Anahbelle Ernst; sophomores Ella Lewison, Zoey Rutten, Lexi Bosek, Nicole Skindelien, Kaitlyn Romberger, Isabelle Porter and Lucy Randleman; ninth-graders Ashley Murken, Brooklyn Sanders, Taylor Hicks and Haylee Kasper; and eighth-graders Kylie Erickson and Claira Frey.

Coaches this year were head coach Michele Johnson and assistants Caleb Greene, Kari Nelson and Jacalyn Skoglund.