Southern Minnesota volleyball coaches roll past career milestones
Two southeastern Minnesota coaches, Lonnie Morken of Mabel-Canton and Scott Koepke of Caledonia, continue to climb the list of the state's biggest volleyball winners.
Morken recently became the fourth coach in state history to accumulate at least 800 wins, and Koepke became the 14th to reach 600.
Morken reached his milestone in a tournament at Floodwood. A loss to Floodwood in the title game is the only loss of the season for Mabel-Canton, 17-1 and ranked second in Class 1A. Koepke's No. 600 was over Lewiston-Altura. Caledonia is 12-0 this season and ranked fourth in Class 2A.
Morken stands third in Minnesota history in all-time victories. Here are the top five, with their victory totals:
John Dzubay, Stewartville, 1,033*
Gail Nucech, Hibbing, 884
Lonnie Morken, Mabel-Canton, 812*
Milan Mader, Lakeville North, 806
Ruth Hayden, Ada-Borup, 730
*active
State rankings
By the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association
Class 4A
1. Wayzata; 2. Champlin Park; 3. Eagan; 4. East Ridge; 5. Lakeville South; 6. Lakeville North; 7. Rogers; 8. New Prague; 9. Maple Grove; 10. St. Michael-Albertville.
Class 3A
1. Marshall; 2. Rocori; 3. Northfield; 4. Kasson-Mantorville; 5. Detroit Lakes; 6. Holy Angels; 7. Byron; 8. Delano; 9. Alexandria; 10. St. Peter.
Class 2A
1. Pequot Lakes; 2. Southwest Christian; 3. Belle Plaine; 4. Caledonia; 5. Albany; 6. Cannon Falls; 7. Rush City; 8. Chatfield; 9. Annandale; 10. Wadena-Deer Creek.
Class 1A
1. Minneota; 2. Mabel-Canton; 3. Mayer Lutheran; 4. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; 5. Fillmore Central; 6. Canby; 7. Wabasso; 8. BOLD; 9. Bethlehem Academy; 10. Renville County West.
