Grand Forks Herald top 10 teams to watch in area high school volleyball

Aug. 31—GRAND FORKS — The Herald selected the top 10 teams to watch ahead of the Minnesota and North Dakota 2022 high school volleyball seasons.

The teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Badger-Greenbush-Middle River: The Gators went 29-5 a year ago and advanced to the Minnesota state tournament for the first time in program history.

The Gators only graduated three from that team and return four all-conference players including all-state choice in setter Cassie Dahl.

Seniors Riley Gust (middle hitter), Kinsley Hanson (outside hitter) and Jade Reese (middle hitter) were all-conference.

The Gators expect to be even more versatile than a year ago.

Cavalier: The Tornadoes lost one senior from a 15-12-2 team last season and return five starters.

Cavalier will be an older team with seven seniors and five juniors.

The Tornadoes are led by Eden Carrier, a 5-foot-9 middle hitter, who had 280 kills last season.

Jade Khine added 154 kills last year, while Tia Jensen had 91.

Cavalier's top two in assists also return this season with Khine (352) and Carmen LeTexier (290).

Fosston: The Greyhounds went 20-10 last season and will need to replace standout hitter Brooklyn Ostenaa, along with two other seniors.

Fosston returns four starters from a year ago and receives a big shot in the arm in the return of hitter Katelyn Vesledahl, who was injured all of last season.

Fosston will be strong defensively with libero Lauren Sekely and setter Kinsley Duppong returning.

Duppong, a senior, had 771 assists last season along with 183 digs, 41 kills and 39 aces. Sekely, also a senior, had 330 digs and 31 aces in 2021.

Senior outside Evelyn Dryburgh (102 kills last season) and junior middle Brynlea Mahlen (110 kills, 41 blocks) also return with experience.

GF Red River: The Roughriders will build on the experience of returning junior outside hitter Hannah Litzinger and senior defensive specialist Cassidy O'Halloran.

Litzinger had 208 kills and 286 digs last season, while O'Halloran had 263 digs.

Junior setter Taylor Heid returns with experience with 319 assists last year while junior Haley Johnson (118 kills) and junior Hope Gaddie (271 digs) also saw significant playing time.

Graduation hit the Riders hardest at middle hitter but Red River is excited about the potential of the youth at the position.

Kittson County Central: The Bearcats were 22-10 last year and advanced to the section title game.

KCC loses big middle hitter Cheyanne Scalese, who's now playing at the University of Jamestown, and versatile outside Jenna Davis to graduation, along with four other seniors.

In 2021, Scalese had a team-high 392 kills and Davis had a team-high 329 digs, so there's lots of production there to replace.

The Bearcats will be young but return two with experience in sophomores Morgan Turn and Berlyn Strege.

Turn was a versatile freshman with 421 assists but also 104 kills. Strege was strong at the serving line with 50 aces at a 95 percent serve efficiency.

Lake of the Woods: The Bears finished 16-9 last season and return three all-conference players in seniors Paige Haack, Chloe Olson and Mackenzie Pieper.

Lake of the Woods graduated a libero and a setter but has an experienced lineup with five seniors, six juniors and a sophomore.

The Bears should be strong with hitters but will need to develop defensively and with passing.

Langdon-Edmore-Munich: The Cardinals finished fifth last season after winning Region 4 and lose senior all-state talent Morgan Freije, who's now at Valley City State.

Langdon-Edmore-Munich, however, returns two-year starting setter Jalynn Swanson and a pair of hitters who didn't play in 2021.

Cora Badding is back after an ACL injury cost her the 2021 season, while Jaya Henderson, a key piece of the Cardinals' basketball success recently, is out for volleyball after sitting out last year.

Both Badding and Henderson give coach Rich Olson six-rotation athletes to add to the mix to offset the loss of three senior starters from last year.

Swanson's return will be important as an experienced junior who can quarterback the offense as the rusty hitters get up to speed.

May-Port-C-G

The Patriots return heavy from a region runner-up finish to Thompson last season, graduating just two regulars.

May-Port-C-G has two returning all-region picks in twin sisters Rylee and Raina Satrom.

Danica Hanson and Kate Bradner also return with plenty of experience. The junior Hanson had 309 digs, 129 kills and 20 aces last season, while Bradner, a senior, had 161 kills and 45 blocks as a junior.

Brooklyn Groth, Jillian Larson and Alli Stromsodt also return after seeing playing time in 2021.

May-Port-C-G's big challenge will be to replace starting setters Kalynn Olson and Kinsey Hanson. Danica Hanson and Stromsodt will work into the setter rotation this season.

Thief River Falls: The Prowlers lost six regulars including the team's top setter (Josie Johnson) and libero but Thief River Falls returns two big pieces in senior left-hander Briley Lingen and Carlie Rogalla.

Lingen was second on the team with 140 kills a year ago.

The Prowlers are focusing on serve receive early in the season in hopes of setting up their top hitters. In her senior season, Johnson had 358 of the team's 536 assists.

Thief River Falls finished 14-12 last season before losing to Perham in the section final. It was the first time since 2015 the Prowlers have reached the section final.

Thompson

The Tommies graduated five standout seniors from a team that finished third place at state last season. However, Thompson seemingly always reloads under veteran coach Lisa Strand.

Thompson graduated outside hitters Mya Krogstad and Lexi Zafke, setter Libby Koerber, libero Bailey Munson and defensive specialist Jasmine Welke.

Senior Summer Hegg leads the Thompson returners with more than 400 kills a year ago, while junior Brenna Martin also returns in the middle with experience.

Sydney Schwabe will lead what's expected to be a two-setter offense, although Strand is still toying with offensive options.

Jordan West will look to fill the void of Munson, who now plays for Lake Region State College in Devils Lake.