MACA girls set for post-season debut vs. Monte

The MACA volleyball Tigers closed out their upbeat regular season with two wins in their last three matches. Those three matches are reviewed in this post.

The squad needed a little time to pick up steam this season. They put together a thrilling stretch which really lifted their stock for post-season. If you're taking notes we're in 3AA North where we own the No. 3 seed. Our regular season mark: 16-8 in overall, 9-4 in conference. We finished tied for second in the West Central Conference. One of our losses came at the very end vs. Sauk Centre.

The curtain will open for post-season with the Tigers hosting No. 6 Montevideo. Fans will gather at our spacious MAHS gym on Friday (10/26). The first serve will be batted at about 7 p.m.

Marshall is the No. 1 seed in our sub-section. Sauk Centre ruled our conference. If the Tigers can skate through round #1, they'll play either YME or Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (at the higher seed). That match is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, 10/30. The North championship will be determined on the first day of November. The overall section champion will be determined on 11/3 at Southwest State, Marshall.

 

Tigers 3, Paynesville 1

The Tigers looked poised in Bulldog country of Paynesville, disposing of this green-clad foe efficiently in four games. Sydney Engebretson was a force establishing MACA superiority. She nailed 16 kills. Her good/attempts numbers were 46/49. Paige Schieler was the other major cog at the net. Her attacking netted her nine kills, with good/attempts numbers of 31-34. Other Tigers with kills were Nicole Strobel, MicKenley Nagel, Katie Holzheimer and Kayla Pring.

The Tigers defeated Paynesville by scores of 25-14, 25-11, 23-25 and 25-16. Holzheimer, Chelsey Ehleringer and Pring raced around the court delivering the sets. The set assist leader was Holzheimer with 17. Strobel and Holzheimer each asserted themselves to achieve three ace blocks. Nagel and Pring each had an ace block.

Mikaela Henrichs was at the fore in digging which is often the case. On this night she contributed 24 but was followed closely by Beth Holland whose total was 21. Ehleringer contributed 17 digs. Moving on to serving, we see that Holzheimer was aggressive and precise as she nailed five ace serves. She had 18-for-20 in good/attempts. Henrichs nailed four aces while going 15-for-19. Engebretson had two serving aces and Strobel one.

 

Tigers 3, Minnewaska Area 0

The Tigers needed just the minimal three games to get past the Minnewaska Area Lakers out next to the beautiful Lake Minnewaska on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Game scores were 25-13, 25-17 and 25-13.

Chelsey Ehleringer served for three aces and was a perfect 16-for-16 in that department. Nicole Strobel and Katie Holzheimer each served for one ace.

The trio of Holzheimer, Ehleringer and Kayla Pring were the setting stalwarts, functioning smoothly as always. Holzheimer produced 16 assists while Ehleringer had seven and Pring two. MicKenley Nagel looked authoritative in producing three ace blocks. Holzheimer had two ace blocks and Sydney Engebretson one.

Engebretson was in her typical position leading the hitters. She helped set the tone for the sweep win by getting 13 kills. Her good/attempts stats were 32-35. Paige Schieler went on the attack to achieve ten kills while going 30-for-31. Strobel and Holzheimer each produced four kills followed by Nagel with three and Rebekah Aanerud with two. On to digs: Henrichs set the pace with 22 while Beth Holland and Holzheimer each had 13. Sadie Fischer posted eight digs, Schieler six and Engebretson five.

Standouts for Minnewaska included Alison Hoeper and Lexi Amundson, each of whom had eight kills. 

One consequence of the Tigers' win was Sauk Centre being awarded the WCC title outright. The Streeters have been enjoying a truly banner season.

 

Sauk Centre 3, Tigers 0

So, guess who the Tigers faced in ending the regular season? Yes, those powerhouse Streeters of Sauk Centre. The Streeters have turned back all challengers.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, they swept our Tigers by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-12. Morris Area Chokio Alberta ends up in a tie for second in conference.

Kills were a little hard to come by for the determined Tigers on this night. Sydney Engebretson led with her modest total of six while Paige Schieler had five and Nicole Strobel three. Strobel was a perfect 12-for-12 in good/attempts.

MicKenley Nagel went up to accomplish six ace blocks, well ahead of her mates. Mikaela Henrichs had 19 digs and Sadie Fischer ten. Holzheimer and Ehleringer were the setting workhorses and neither had a misfired attempt. Each of these Tigers had five assists.

No Tiger had more than one serving ace. Those with one were Strobel (12-for-12) and Katie Holzheimer (six-for-seven)

See you in the post-season!

 

Cross country: Smith, Goulet at the fore

The temperature danced around 70 degrees on a most pleasant day for the West Central Conference cross country meet. Runners gathered at Koronis Hills Golf Club, Paynesville, on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

MaKenzie Smith of our Morris Area Chokio Alberta Tigers was the girls champion. She won it last year too when the WCC-South was in effect. The North and South divisions have been erased. I applaud the new simplicity. There are many complicated aspects of following high school sports. This seems especially true in post-season. Having one monolithic West Central Conference seems a step forward.

Smith's rangy physique seemed suited for the Koronis Hills course which has lots of hills. Her championship time over the 4000m course was 15:57. This put her about a half-minute ahead of runner-up Alaysia Freetly of LQPV. The MACA girls finished fourth as a team. Freetly and her LQPV mates were No. 1.

Smith was joined in the MACA effort by Rachel Rausch (tenth), Savannah Aanerud (12th), Becca Holland (24th), Tahni Jungst (30th), Adrianela Mendez (32nd) and Miranda Day (35th).

Aaron Goulet led the MACA boys with his 18:17 showing over the 5000m course. He placed fourth. The boys champion was YME's Jacob Carroll (17:59). The color purple had a grand day as Montevideo excelled. Six Thunder Hawks arrived at the finish chute among the first eleven. Monte was awarded top team honors.

Goulet was joined in the MACA effort by Ryan Gray (17th), Roy Reese (24th), Jon Jerke (28th), Beau Keimig (40th), Eric Staebler (42nd) and Matt Ohren (44th).

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com