How Watertown volleyball finished with one of the best records in program history
Anyway you look at it, the 2023 season was definitely a very successful one for the Watertown High School volleyball team.
The Arrows compiled a 27-7 record, the third most wins in the 34-year history of program, and finished second in the Eastern South Dakota Conference with an 8-1 record. They also snapped a two-year state tournament drought and, after struggling in an opening-round loss, closed with two wins and the consolation championship.
"It was a great year," coach Rosemary Bellum said. "A lot of these girls were returning starters and had seen some court time. What we're they going to bring to the table? Were they going to be mediocre and prove that they were better than last year. We got the better version of them."
What went right?
As already mentioned, a lot of things went right for the Arrow volleyball team this fall. It didn't hurt that the team featured eight seniors, many who played important roles.
More: Roger Merriam's look at some of the best Arrow volleyball players since program started in 1990-91
2023 Watertown Volleyball Stats: Click here for the final numbers on the Arrows
Watertown enjoyed an 11-match winning streak and was ranked (mainly fourth) in Class AA all season. All of the team's losses came to ranked teams in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Senior leaders included 5-foot-10 outside hitter Eve Hauger (137 kills and two solo and 54 block assists), 5-10 outside hitter Emily Tisher (265 kills and 32 block assists), 5-10 middle hitter Carter Jurrens (160 kills and nine solo and 79 block assists), 5-9 senior middle hitter Hannah Herzog (139 kills and eight solo and 67 block assists), 5-5 setter Miranda Falconer (49 aces, 196 digs and a program-record 1,039 assists), 5-6 defensive specialist Paige McAreavey (68 aces and 179 digs) and 5-5 senior defensive specialist Addi Johnston (242 digs). Avery Munger, a senior right side hitter, added 79 kills. Jurrens earned All-Eastern South Dakota Conferenece honors.
"For these seniors, this was there last hurrah. There was no next year," Bellum said. "They needed to do whatever it took to get their goals accomplished."
What didn't go right?
Not much went wrong for the the Arrows, even though they were 0-6 against the top-rated AA schools in the state. They were 0-2 against No. 1 Harrisburg (which went undefeated and repeated as the state champion), 0-1 against No. 2 Sioux Falls Jefferson and No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington and 0-2 against No. 5 O'Gorman.
Watertown's other loss came to Marshall (Minn.), which won its third-straight Minnesota Class AAA state championship, and ninth state title overall.
O'Gorman rallied for a 3-2 win at Watertown during the season and spoiled the Arrows' bid for a championship with a 3-0 sweep in the first round of last week's state tourney at Rapid City.
"It was one of those things where you have confidence but for whatever reason and we just did not," said Bellum. "That's kind of the mindset when you play those Metro area schools. You just feel like we don't have it. We just had a horrendously poor day and it was combination of everything."
Inside the numbers and looking ahead
Bellum became the program's all-time winningest coach this season; she's now 144-61 in seven years. Beth Schutt, who started the Arrow program, coached Bellum in high school and compiled a 139-77-5 record in seven years. Both coaches have led Watertown volleyball to state titles.
The Arrows' 27 wins are the third-most in program history for a single season. Bellum led the Arrows to a state title in 2019 with a 28-2 record, the best record in school history. The 1993-94 Arrows (volleyball was in the winter back then) went 28-12-2 and finished second in the state. Bellum played on that team.
The Arrows should return 5-8 junior outside hitter Emery Thury, who led the team with 375 kills and added 53 aces, 34 block assists and 303 digs. She was the team's best player. Natalie Pearson, a 5-5 junior libero, made a team-high 415 digs. Kynslee Johnson, a 5-7 junior defensive specialist, also saw consistent playing time and 6-0 junior Madisyn Grimsrud saw a good amount of minutes in the state tournament.
In addition, Watertown should welcome back junior setter Grace Corey. She played regularly as a sophomore but missed this season after injuring her knee.
A handful of other juniors will have to provide help along with sophomores and freshmen. Like the seniors proved this fall, it will be somebody's else turn to leave their mark.
"There were definitely ups and downs through the season but we talked things through, got those issues solves and came out on the better side of it," Bellum said. "We definitely have some good juniors coming back and we'll see what we get from the freshmen and sophomores. We definitely won't have the height that we had this year and that's maybe going to be the hardest part."
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Season highlights for the 2023 Watertown High School volleyball team
