Above: With big sister Linden looking on, Meredith Sutton showed she has some backcourt skills, diving to get to balls before they could hit the floor. Both Suttons are noted for their frontcourt play at the net and for their jump serves. Left: Morgan Mixdorf made a great play to set this ball in the Vikings’ first home game against Silver Bay played Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Cook County High School (CCHS) opened its volleyball season at home on Tuesday, August 26 with an exciting 3-0 victory over the nearest rival, the Silver Bay Mariners.
Despite some early jitters, it didn’t take the Vikings long to find their game. The Vikings looked loose, made good passes, served well, talked to each other on the court, and used touch when the Mariner defense went up to block a spike.
They also had fun on the court, cheering each other on and high-fiving after many points.
For its part, the Mariners looked much improved over last year, and they played well in spots, but not consistently well.
The Vikings won game one 25-14, game two 25-9 and put the broom to the Mariners with a clean sweep in game three 25-19.
Game one was close for the first third of the contest. The Vikings led 9-8 before pulling away to an 11-point victory, much of it behind the big hitting of Linden and Meredith Sutton.
The Sutton sisters play volleyball year round, traveling to Duluth to play on a club that participates in tournaments throughout the state. That dedication shows in their play.
Linden is a junior and is the Vikings’ only returning All-Conference player. Meredith, a 9th grader, made her first start for the Vikings and impressed with her jump serve and her vicious spike.
But two players don’t make a team, and the sisters had plenty of help from starters Maddie Roy, Jamie Sjogren, Morgan Mixdorf, Lily Gruber-Schulz, Alex Slanga, Trace McQuatters, Sara Carman, Jordan Deschampe, Shauna Blake, and Carrie Palmer.
Down 2-0, Silver Bay could have folded and ended their night with a quick trip to Sven & Ole’s for some pizza before making a mad dash down the road for home. Instead, the Mariners made the Vikings earn every point in game 3.
Middle hitter Sydney Topp led her teammates, who fought hard for every ball. It was a good test for the Vikings because tougher teams are looming on the schedule. The Vikings had to constantly rally to hold the Mariners off. The Vikings led 19-18 before getting some breathing room.
In the end Alex Slanga made two great serves to close the game out in favor of the Vikings.
Lily Gruber-Schulz, a 6-foot junior, played well all night long, hitting a variety of hard spikes and blocking at the net. Alex Slanga and Morgan Mixdorf both served well and did a good job setting up their taller teammates, while liberos Carrie Palmer and Sara Carman dove for tough balls, digging them off of the floor. Jamie Sjogren and Madison (Maddie) Roy are two of the team’s steadiest players and lead by doing all of the small things right.
“Jamie has worked hard on her back court play and it really shows. Last night Maddie had a great game, finishing with 15 digs and 10 set assists,” Head Volleyball Coach Pam Taylor said.
Leading the Vikings was Linden with 9 kills; Meredith had 4 kills; Morgan had 4 set assists; and Lily and Alex had 3 ace serves in the match.
“Overall I was very pleased with the way the kids played,” said Coach Taylor. “My biggest frustration was that we didn’t talk as much as we do in practice. If we talk to each other we play better. One thing I was happy with was that we continued to run our sets and plays even though they didn’t always work. If we continue to do this, to keep trying our plays, they will eventually work.”
Taylor is also looking forward to having Britta Andress on the court. The 6’2” senior played JV last year, but because she was home schooled couldn’t play on the varsity.
“She’s enrolled as a full time student this year,” beamed Taylor. “She will be playing her first home game September 9 against Wrenshall.”
The Vikings next face Duluth Marshall away on August 28, then travel to Two Harbors on September 4 before coming back home to play Wrenshall at 6:30 p.m. on September 9. The Vikings also face Barnum at home on September 11 with varsity play beginning at 6:30 p.m. Go Vikings!
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