'Waska and UMN-Morris put on show in volleyball

The Minnewaska Area volleyball team has done nothing but win in the 2025 season. The Lakers built their win total considerably in the most recent action. Last week saw them get past Sauk Centre and Melrose, both by sweep. The Sauk match was on Tuesday, the success vs. Melrose Thursday. 

On the heels of these successes, those Lakers swept their opponents in the weekend tournament at Alexandria. They won 2-0 vs. Brainerd, BBE and Alexandria. Today (Tuesday) will have the Lakers playing our MACA Tigers in Morris. Should be an interesting match to watch. 

All of this success comes in a fall that will include a referendum in the 'Waska school district. I wonder how that discussion is going. Under control? Getting emotional maybe? But there's nothing but happiness and excitement in the volleyball world, that's for sure. The Lakers are 19-0.

 

Watch collegians too 

This past weekend saw yours truly take in not one but two volleyball matches at the UMN-Morris P.E. Center. UMM volleyball might be the best-kept entertainment secret in Morris. There was a lively atmosphere at the Cougars' court for Homecoming. Our team won on Friday, got defeated on Saturday. There was no admission charge. 

After the recent "expose" article on UMM in the Star-Trib, one has to wonder if campus events are losing some luster. That's one reason I go out there. The good news is that UMM volleyball reveals a very upbeat and exciting picture. But there is bad news: UMN-Morris music has gotten a serious setback due to the stage floor "buckling" at the recital hall. It would appear this is the reason there was no Homecoming showcase for UMM music. Sorry I cannot repeat the enthusiasm that I expressed about volleyball. 

There was nothing to evaluate with music for the Homecoming weekend. The UMM Homecoming concert has been a staple on the Homecoming weekend slate for many years. It was a nice safe place to go on the weekend of the goalpost incident, certainly. The incident was in 2005. Leave it to sports to produce a nightmarish episode for the school. This would never happen in music. 

Unfortunately I had to pay attention to football for the Morris newspaper. And no matter how I reacted to the goalpost tragedy - a student got killed - I would have been criticized for some reason. Just try to review the football and disregard the tragedy? I might be viewed as insensitive. "How can you write about this as if it was just another game?" But the far worse option was to try to cover the tragedy in any way, shape or form. 

The press cannot come out a winner when a kid gets killed. How wonderful if I could have just been at home on that Saturday afternoon. But fate dealt me a different hand. And then media people from all over the country expected me to know all the details of what just happened. These memories come back as UMM marks each new homecoming. They are unavoidable. 

But as a non-media person now, I could choose to attend the UMM volleyball matches and have nothing but fun. 

The bleachers are pulled out on only one side these days. Looks like that's permanent. Hard not to view that as a step down. It also gives the illusion that the fan turnout is bigger than it really is. In past times obviously the fans would have been divided up between the two sides. Nevertheless the atmosphere for volleyball could not have been more enthused for UMM Homecoming weekend 2025. 

 

The macro picture

Meanwhile we're all dealing with the government shutdown. How is that treating you? Just got a new email release from our congressperson Michelle Fischbach. I take no pleasure in regularly criticizing her. But she has such a simplistic view of life: Republicans good, Democrats bad. That's all you have to know about life from Fischbach's perspective. Must be nice to not have to tax your brain too hard. 

Has Fischbach ever communicated one word of criticism about Donald Trump? Well, I think not. Again, easy on the brain: whatever Trump does or says, just go along with it and keep demonizing the Democrats. 

How is all of this going to wash out? Trump's mind is steadily deteriorating.

 

Emma Hellerman

Minnewaska 3, Melrose 0 

Melrose hosted this volleyball action. The Lakers won yet again, scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 25-10. 

Haillie Schulz performed two serving aces. Eliana Marthaler and Piper Barsness each had one. Schulz stood out in setting too with her 26 assists. Emma Poegel performed three assists and these Lakers each had one: Avery Lewison, Emma Hellerman and Barsness. 

On to the crowd-pleasing hitting department. Here it was Berlynn Green showing her prowess with nine kills. The list continues: Lewison 6, Hellermman 5, Mya VanLuik 5, Schulz 4 and Taylor Schulz 4. Lewison topped the list in ace blocks with three. Then we see the Schulz girls each with 1 1/2. Green performed an ace block and Hellerman added 1/2. 

Green was busy with digs where her stat was 16. Poegel, Hallie Schulz and Barsness each had nine, and Marthaler had five.

 

UMM 3, North Central 0

I personally watched our UMM Cougars win by sweep over North Central on Friday of Homecoming weekend. Had great fun watching. The Cougars prevailed 25-13, 25-18 and 25-21. The fan attendance was reported as 153.

Bella Nelson

Bella Nelson came at North Central with ten kills. She was followed in that department by Mary Cate Ziembiec with nine and Ella Johnson with eight. On to serve aces: here we see Johnson with three, Clara Holden two and Allison Dornseif one. 
Ziembiec performed five blocks to lead there. Tori Scheler had three blocks and Johnson two. In assists we saw Holden with 21, Dornseif with six and Lexi Green with three. The digs department had Lexi Coon with 15, Holden with 12 and Johnson with 12. 
Yours truly "splurged" and bought a Snickers bar for $2 on Saturday night! 
I would love to be writing about MACA volleyball but I do not have access to timely information.
   
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com