Volleyball roundup: A milestone night for Willmar Cardinals freshman

Sep. 14—WILLMAR — Entering Thursday's volleyball match against Rocori, Willmar freshman Ellery DeBoer was unaware that she was on the cusp of 1,000 career set assists.

DeBoer needed 13 set assists to reach 1,000. The 5-foot-10-inch setter then dished out 40 set assists in Willmar's five-set Central Lakes Conference loss to the Spartans.

She now sits at 1,027 career set assists in her young career.

"It's crazy," DeBoer said. "I'm really thankful for all my teammates that have helped support me.

"My family didn't tell me that I was 13 away. I was not aware at all. My team kept it a giant secret."

Rocori, ranked third in the state in Class AA, beat the Cardinals 25-19, 13-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-8.

DeBoer's milestone set assist came early in the second set on an Avery Olson kill. As the ball hit the floor, the Big Red Gym erupted.

The student section held up "1,000" signs and captain Gretchen Volk simultaneously alerted DeBoer of the milestone by approaching her and saying "1,000 assists, baby."

"It was really emotional and I almost started crying," said DeBoer, who now begins her pursuit for 2,000 career set assists. Her 290 set assists in the 2023 season rank No. 2 in Class AAA, according to stats that are submitted to the MN Volleyball Hub.

Rocori (10-0) is 6-0 in the CLC. Willmar is 2-3 in the conference and 4-7 overall.

"It was a fun match," Cardinals head coach Leah Brogdon said. "It was tough and it was good for us.

"We're playing good volleyball and competing with high level teams. We will find success if we keep playing the way we are."

Brielle Ogdahl and Gretchen Volk, both outside hitters, led Willmar's attack.

Ogdahl, a 5-11 sophomore, had 17 kills. Volk, a 5-9 junior, tacked on 11 more.

"Brielle and Gretchen both hit really hard balls on the outside," Brogdon said. "That was huge for us."

Willmar tallied 74 digs. Five players had double digits in digs. Volk led with 19, senior libero Lexi Owens had 15, junior defensive specialist Hannah Magnuson added 13 and Ogdahl and DeBoer each tacked on 11.

"Our back row did a nice job and they were super scrappy," Brogdon said. "That was what kept us in it."

"We were really scrappy and played good defense," DeBoer added. "It was tough playing against Kate (Holthaus)."

Holthaus, a junior outside hitter, is committed to the Division I University of South Dakota.

The Cardinals play host to Brainerd at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Rocori (10-0) 25 13 25 19 15

Willmar (4-7) 19 25 16 25 8

ROCORI

Stats not available

WILLMAR

Serving (aces): Hannah Magnuson 4, Ellery DeBoer 2, Brielle Ogdahl 2, Lexi Owens 1 ... Set assists: DeBoer 40, Gretchen Volk 4, Ogdahl 2, Magnuson 2, Nora Mitteness 1, Owens 1 ... Hitting (kills): Ogdahl 17, Volk 11, Mitteness 8, DeBoer 8, Avery Olson 4, Maddison Molacek 2, Owens 1 ... Blocking (aces): DeBoer 2, Mitteness 2, Volk 1, Molacek 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Volk 19, Owens 15, Magnuson 13, DeBoer 11, Ogdahl 11

New London-Spicer got eight kills apiece from Ayla Caskey, Emma Madison and Kendra Gerhardson to earn the sweep at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.

Gerhardson and Dakota Rich each had 17 set assists. Rich also had five service aces. Piper Barney added nine digs for NLS.

The Wildcats play host to Morris/Chokio-Alberta at 7 p.m. Monday at New London.

NLS (9-3) 25 25 25

HLWW (8-4) 14 23 17

NEW LONDON-SPICER

Serving (aces): Dakota Rich 5, Emma Madison 2, Abby Knudsen 1 ... Set assists: Rich 17, Kendra Gerhardson 17 ... Hitting (kills): Ayla Caskey 8, Madison 8, Gerhardson 8, Piper Barney 5, Ava Carlson 5, Rich 4 ... Blocking (aces): Barney 2, Gerhardson 1, Madison 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Barney 9, Rich 8, Gerhardson 7, Avery Newman 6, Grayce Reigstad 5

HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED

Stats not available

Rockford improved to 7-2 overall with the three-set victory over visiting Litchfield.

The Dragons play host to Paynesville at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Litchfield.

Litchfield (1-7) 14 19 14

Rockford (7-2) 25 25 25Central MinnesotaHoldingford 3, ACGC 1Holdingford earned a four-set home victory over Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City.

Falcons senior middle Elli Roemeling had 14 kills, 11 digs and 6-1/2 blocks.

ACGC takes on New London-Spicer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at New London.

ACGC (4-9) 20 26 20 21

Holdingford (4-5) 25 24 25 25

ATWATER-COSMOS-GROVE CITY

Serving (aces): Ruby Klinger 2, Alayna Schultz 1, Kenlie Blom 1, Taylor Frericks 1 ... Set assists: Schultz 28, Blom 2, Elli Roemeling 1, Frericks 1 ... Hitting (kills): Roemeling 14, Mikaili Johnson 7, Klinger 5, Giselle Grahn 2, Blom 2, Schultz 2, Haley Johnson 1, Frericks 1 ... Blocking (aces): Roemeling 6-1/2, Klinger 5, Blom 1-1/2, Johnson 1-1/2, Johnson 1-1/2, Grahn 1/2 ... Digs (5 or more): Schultz 14, Johnson 13, Roemeling 11, Johnson 9, Blom 9, Frericks 8

HOLDINGFORD

Stats not available

Brooklyn Fischer put up 15 kills and had eight digs for Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in a four-set victory at Kimball.

Kylie Weller finished with 26 set assists for the Jaguars.

BBE plays in the Crosby-Ironton Invitational beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday when it plays Barnum at Crosby. The Jaguars then face Deer River at noon.

BBE (5-4) 25 25 16 25

Kimball (6-6) 20 19 25 16

BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA

Serving (aces): McKenna Lieser 3, Kylie Weller 2, Kacey Fischer 1 ... Set assists: Weller 26, Ava Deters 2, Kamie Fischer 1, ... Hitting (kills): Brooklyn Fischer 15, Kac. Fischer 7, Lieser 6, Adley Hagen 5, Kadynce Haider 3, Weller 2 ... Blocking (aces): Kac. Fischer 2, B. Fischer 1, Faith Radermacher 1, Lieser 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Kac. Fischer 9, Deters 9, B. Fischer 8, Weller 8

KIMBALL

Stats not available

With 18 kills and three ace serves by Emma Flanders, Paynesville picked up a road win over Eden Valley-Watkins in Eden Valley.

Grace Roberg led a quartet of Bulldogs with double-digit digs with 16. Rayna Spanier finished with 35 set assists.

Paynesville hosts Osakis at 7 p.m. Monday at Paynesville.

Paynesville (11-2) 25 25 25

EV-W (1-11) 17 17 16

PAYNESVILLE

Serving (aces): Emma Flanders 3, Kaydence Roeske 3, Grace Roberg 2, Rayna Spanier 1, Emma Kolstad 1 ... Set assists: Spanier 35, Roberg 2, Maddie Frieler 1 ... Hitting (kills): Flanders 18, Roeske 9, Finley Anfinson 5, Frieler 4, Kolstad 2 ... Blocking (aces): Kolstad 1, Spanier 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Roberg 16, Roeske 15, Kylie Pauls 12, Kolstad 11, Spanier 9, Flanders 7

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS

Stats not available

Montevideo secured its first West Central Conference win of the season after sweeping Benson at Montevideo.

Emmie Koenen had team highs for the Thunder Hawks in kills (11) and ace serves (two). Maren Nelson had six of Montevideo's 15 ace serves.

The Thunder Hawks play West Central at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Barrett. The Braves host an invitational beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Benson.

Benson (0-6) 16 21 13

Montevideo (2-9) 25 25 25

BENSON

Stats not available

MONTEVIDEO

Serving (aces): Maren Nelson 6, Addie Olson 4, Emmie Koenen 3, Taya Weber 1, Teagan Epema 1 ... Set assists: Olson 20, Avery Williams 1, Madison Picht 1 ... Hitting (kills): Koenen 11, Williams 6, Nelson 2, Jessa Norby 2, Epema 1, Picht 1 ... Blocking (aces): Koenen 2, Picht 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Epema 8, Weber 7, Williams 5

Ady Knake had a BOLD-best 17 kills and 15 digs to put the Warriors over West Central Area in Olivia.

Kenzie Visser added 16 kills and three ace serves in the victory. Layla Pfarr came up with 41 set assists.

Ranked seventh in Class A, BOLD plays in the Wabasso Invitational beginning with Pipestone at 9 a.m. Saturday.

West Central (5-5) 20 22 20

BOLD (11-0) 25 25 25

WEST CENTRAL

Stats not available

BOLD

Serving (aces): Kenzie Visser 3, Ady Knake 2, Layla Pfarr 2, Delaney Tersteeg 1 ... Set assists: Pfarr 41, D. Tersteeg 6 ... Hitting (kills): Knake 17, Visser 16, Grace Tersteeg 5 ... Blocking (aces): G. Tersteeg 3, Visser 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Knake 15, D. Tersteeg 14, Visser 13

Tenth-ranked (Class AA) Sauk Centre rebounded after a loss to BOLD on Tuesday to beat Minnewaska in straight sets in Sauk Centre.

Dreya Barsness finished with nine kills, 12 digs and three ace serves for the Lakers. Avery Fier came up with 21 digs in the loss.

Minnewaska plays Morris/Chokio-Alberta at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Morris.

Minnewaska (6-4) 22 19 15

Sauk Centre (9-5) 25 25 25

MINNEWASKA Serving (aces): Dreya Barsness 3, Avery Fier 1, Emma Poegel 1, Haillie Schultz 1 ... Set assists: Haley Shea 13, Schultz 8, Fier 2, Barsness 1, Poegel 1 ... Hitting (kills): Barsness 9, Fier 7, Schultz 6, Addy Kath 3, Dacia Fleury 1, Miaya Guggisberg 1 ... Blocking (aces): Emma Hellerman 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Fier 21, Poegel 15, Shea 14, Barsness 12

SAUK CENTRE

Stats not available

Central Minnesota Christian secured the sweep over Yellow Medicine East in Prinsburg.

Emmi Braem and Janessa Erickson each had 12 kills for the Bluejays. Lilly Mellema added 10 kills and nine digs in the victory.

Kiara Sakry paced the Sting with five kills. Ella Cherveny finished with 18 digs.

CMCS will compete in the Wabasso Invitational on Saturday. YME plays host to Dawson-Boyd at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Granite Falls.

YME (0-8) 16 16 12

CMCS (4-3) 25 25 25

YELLOW MEDICINE EAST

Serving (aces): none ... Set assists: Riley Streich 9, Ella Cherveny 1 ... Hitting (kills): Kiara Sakry 5, Alana Almich 4, Streich 2, Narria Leenerts 1 ... Blocking (aces): Abbey Bones 2, Streich 1, Sakry 1, Hanna Bjorndal 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Cherveny 18, Sakry 10, Leenerts 9, Klaira Shackelford 9, Streich 8

CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN

Serving (aces): Avery Duininck 2, Morgan Groen 1, Emmi Braem 1, Lilly Mellema 1 ... Set assists: A. Duininck 17, Braem 10, Sienna Duininck 6, Lauren Taatjes 3, Carrie Mulder 1 ... Hitting (kills): Braem 12, Janessa Erickson 12, Mellema 10, Taatjes 6, Mulder 4, Groen 2 ... Blocking (aces): Mulder 2, Braem 2, Erickson 2, Mellema 1, Groen 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Mellema 9, Groen 8, Sophia Vogel 6, Braem 6, Anica Damhof 5

Brielle Janssen had a team-high 17 kills for MACCRAY in a sweep over Ortonville at Clara City.

Emma Thein came up with six ace serves for the Wolverines to go with 13 kills. Annie Bourne tallied 36 set assists.

MACCRAY competes in the Wabasso Invitational on Saturday.

Ortonville (2-6) 25 25 25

MACCRAY (4-1) 21 12 17

ORTONVILLE

Stats not available

MACCRAY

Serving (aces): Emma Thein 6, Kori Bristle 2, Mia Post 1 ... Set assists: Annie Bourne 36 ... Hitting (kills): Brielle Janssen 17, Thein 13, Lexi Nurmi 6, Addisyn Pederson 3, Bourne 2 ... Blocking (aces): Nurmi 1, Janssen 1, Bourne 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Bristle 5, Thein 5

Renville County West is now 3-0 in the Camden Conference after sweeping Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at Renville.

The Jaguars' attack was led by Rachel Jakel's 12 kills. She also had 12 digs and a pair of ace serves. Johanna Braun dished out 29 set assists and had a team-best 15 digs.

RCW travels to Ortonville at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

TMB (2-7) 22 17 11

RCW (7-0-1) 25 25 25

TRACY-MILROY-BALATON

Stats not available

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST

Serving (aces): Rachel Jakel 2, Johanna Braun 1, Holly Hinderks 1, Laila Ridler 1 ... Set assists: Braun 29, Hinderks 6, Ridler 1 ... Hitting (kills): Jakel 12, Emily Lippert 9, Avery Roxberg 7, Coraley Bryan 5, Hinderks 4, Braun 1 ... Blocking (aces): Roxberg 4, Bryan 3, Lippert 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Braun 15, Jakel 12, Ridler 9, Lippert 6, Hannah Savig 5

Lakeview came to Kerkhoven and left with a three-set victory over Camden Conference foe Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.

The loss drops the Fighting Saints' record to 0-3 in the Camden. The Lakers jump to 3-0 in conference play.

KMS is host to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Lakeview (4-6) 28 25 25

KMS (2-4) 26 17 23

Canby, ranked sixth in Class A, got the Camden Conference sweep over Dawson-Boyd in Dawson.

The Blackjacks next play Hancock at 7:15 p.m. Monday at Dawson.

Canby (7-3) 25 25 25

Dawson-Boyd (1-5) 16 13 14

Top-ranked (Class A) Minneota got the Camden Conference sweep over Lac qui Parle Valley in Madison.

The Eagles play Lakeview at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Cottonwood.

Minneota (7-2) 25 25 25

LQPV (3-4) 13 14 12