The Viking volleyball team’s perfect season ended at state, but overall they recorded the most wins ever (25) by a Cook County High School volleyball team. (L-R, front) Meredith Sutton, Lily Gruber-Schulz. (L-R, second row) Maddy Roy (14), Linden Sutton (7), Sara Carman, Libero (with the volleyball), Emily Jacobsen (1), Jordyn Deschampe (4). (L-R, third row) Trace McQuatters (11), Sarah Toftey (2), Tarin Hansen (6), Raina Ryden (9). (L-R, back) Alex Slanga (8), Head Coach Pam Taylor, Shauna Blake (12).
Cook County entered the state volleyball tournament as the only undefeated volleyball team in the state but that didn’t buy them any love from the officials who set up the first game pairings.
On Thursday, November 12 the Vikings took the floor at the Excel Center against the defending state champions, the Faribault Bethlehem Academy. The Bethlehem Academy Cardinals were again the odds-on favorite to win the 2015 title.
Maddy Roy got the Vikings off to a good start with her first serve that Bethlehem misplayed and the Vikings were up 1-0. Unfortunately, that would be the only lead the Vikings would hold against this private school that recruits players to fill its roster.
Emily Jacobsen and Lily Gruber-Schulz each had nice spikes for the Vikings’ second and third points to tie the score 3-3, but Bethlehem, behind its big hitter Payton Nutter, reeled off 7 straight points to go up 11-4. Alex Slanga served an ace to make it 11-5 and then the Vikings’ sixth point came on a ball served into the net by Bethlehem. Trace McQuatters made a nice return on a ball to give the Vikings 7 points and Linden Sutton hammered home a spike to give the Vikings their 9th point, but meanwhile Bethlehem was also adding points to its score and led 17-9.
Once again Roy took her turn in the serving rotation and reeled off four nice serves and the Vikings trailed 17-13. That was about it for the Vikings as Bethlehem used a mix of power and savvy to pull away from the Vikings and win game one 25-15.
Game two was tied 1-1 before Bethlehem started making runs of four or five points in between Viking single points to take the game 25-10. Meredith Sutton had a couple of nice blocks in the game and Linden Sutton had two nice spikes but Bethlehem’s front line often blocked the Vikings’ big hitters of Lily Gruber-Schulz, Emily Jacobsen, and Meredith and Linden Sutton.
Cardinal players also repeatedly found the soft spot—a 10-foot circle in the Vikings’ midcourt—that the Vikings had trouble rotating to.
Game three was all Bethlehem as the Vikings fell behind 10-1 and never could find their mojo on the court. The Vikings lost 25-9 and moved into the Friday consolation bracket against the Verndale Pirates knowing they would be more competitive.
For the game Meredith Sutton finished with 6 digs, Maddy Roy 7 set assists and 6 digs, and Alex Slanga had 5 set assists. Emily Jacobsen and Linden Sutton each finished with 4 kills.
Vikings fall 3-1
The Vikings came out fired up for their consolation matchup with Verndale, winning the first game 25-20. After that, it was a struggle for the Vikings who couldn’t seem to find their serve. At one point the Vikings hit four serves into the net. They also ran into sisters Shania and Jordyn Glenz. Shania finished with 24 kills while Jordyn had 14 kills.
“The kids had a hard time adjusting to the court. They were also suffering from some nerves,” said Head Coach Pam Taylor.
Games two through four were competitive, but the Vikings fell 25-20, 25-19, and 25-19.
Meredith Sutton finished with 14 kills, 2 blocks and 11 digs. Linden Sutton had 10 kills, 4 aces, 2 blocks and 13 digs; Emily Jacobsen had 6 blocks; Lily Gruber-Schulz had 5 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks and 9 digs; Raina Ryden had 3 kills, 2 aces, 1 block and 11 digs; Trace McQuatters had 1 kill, Maddy Roy had 18 set assists, 1 kill and 1 ace; Alex Slanga had 11 set assists and 12 digs.
The Vikings graduate eight talented, dedicated seniors, Jordyn Deschampe, Alex Slanga, Linden Sutton, Lily Gruber-Schulz, Trace McQuatters, Shauna Blake, Madison Roy and Sara Carman.
“This group of seniors fulfilled the dream of making it to State as seniors undefeated, which is how they ended the junior high season back in eighth grade,” said Coach Pam Taylor. “They are an amazing bunch of young ladies. I am so lucky to have been able to coach them.”
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