The Willmar West Central Tribune recently came out with its annual All-Area volleyball team for 2024.  Despite having one of its best seasons in recent years with an 18-10 overall record, the Lakers were shut out from the 13-member All-Area team.

The All-Area first team included seven players and the honorable mention team included another six athletes.

Upperclassmen made up six of the top seven top spots with BBE, MACCRAY, NLS and Willmar representing the All-Area first team, including two each from NLS, Willmar and MACCRAY.

Earning placement on the All-Area first team were NLS senior middle hitter Piper Barney, Willmar sophomore setter Ellery DeBoer, BBE junior outside hitter Kacey Fischer, MACCRAY junior middle blocker Brielle Janssen, NLS senior libero Grayce Reigstad, Willmar senior outside hitter Gretchen Volk and MACCRAY junior right-side hitter Emma Thein.

Two of the seven top players are returners to the All-Area team as DeBoer is back on the squad for the third-straight season and Janssen is back for a second-straight year.

Among the honorable mention selections were Prinsburg junior Emmi Braem, RCW senior Johanna Braun, BBE senior Adley Hagen, NLS senior Emma Madison, Willmar senior Hannah Magnuson and BOLD senior Layla Pfarr.

The only schools to be represented on the All-Area team were BBE, MACCRAY, NLS, Willmar, Prinsburg, RCW and BOLD.