Volleyball: Panthers met challenges during 3-18 season

Going 3-2 against Mid-State Conference teams, battling in other matches highlighted season.

After not winning a match during a shortened season a year ago, Christine Sauer was expecting an improved season from the Park Rapids volleyball team this fall.

The Panthers played well against Mid-State Conference opponents by going 3-2 in those matches. However, losing several close sets against nonconference teams resulted in a 3-18 overall record.

“Overall there were many accomplishments and successes throughout the season. When I think about the legacy that this 2021 volleyball team has left in Park Rapids, a few things come to mind. They set goals and met goals, they arose to challenges put in front of them, and they left a legacy that no matter where a game is going or at that they can’t give up and they must keep going,” said Sauer. “There were a lot of matches that were really close this year point wise. We averaged 21 points a set in Sets 1, 2, 3. They hung on to the very end in all those sets and showed up to practice the next day ready to try again. This team has taught the future Panther volleyball players the importance of working together, not being afraid of hard work, enjoying each other, creating a passion for the game and never stopping.”

Park Rapids began the season with losses to Nevis (25-14, 26-24, 25-13), Roseau (25-22, 25-22, 26-24) and Bemidji (20-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-11) before defeating Crosby-Ironton (25-18, 25-19, 25-21) in the conference opener. After losses to Alexandria (25-12, 25-13, 25-23) and Sebeka (28-26, 25-16, 25-16), the Panthers outlasted Detroit Lakes (13-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21, 15-10) in another Mid-State match.

A loss to Perham (25-16, 25-12, 25-21) was followed by a conference loss to Pequot Lakes (25-8, 25-10, 25-8), a loss to Thief River Falls (25-20, 25-8, 16-25, 25-20) and a conference loss to Staples-Motley (25-17, 25-22, 25-17). The Panthers closed out the conference schedule with a win over Aitkin (26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 15-25, 15-10). Pequot Lakes won the conference title with a 5-0 record with Staples-Motley going 4-1. Trailing the Panthers were Detroit Lakes (2-3), Crosby-Ironton (1-4) and Aitkin (0-5).

At the Perham tournament, the Panthers dropped matches to Sauk Centre (25-8, 25-16), Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (28-26, 25-12), Roseau (25-17, 25-20) and Frazee (25-17, 25-11). That started an eight-match losing streak to end the regular season as Park Rapids was defeated by Wadena-Deer Creek (25-17, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20), Menahga (25-21, 25-8, 25-13), East Grand Forks (25-11, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19) and Barnesville (25-23, 25-21, 25-10).

Alexandria (No. 6 Class AAA), Sauk Centre (No. 6 in Class AA) and Pequot Lakes (No. 7 in Class AA) were rated in the final state polls.

For the Section 8AA tournament, the Panthers received the No. 6 seed in the North and opened the playoffs with a loss to No. 3 Roseau (26-28, 25-23, 25-13, 15-13). Hawley, the No. 2 seed in the South, defeated Thief River Falls, the No. 2 seed in the North, in the Section 8AA championship match.

“We didn’t come out with the W, but ending the season on a match like that showed the potential of next year’s season and excitement to come with that,” said Sauer.

For the season, the Panthers had 456 kills with 361 hitting errors, 114 service aces with 112 service errors, and 138 errors on serve receive.

Putting a competitive team on the court were seniors Kate Aukes, Marriyam Ejaz, Quinn Hunter, Keely Peterson, Rachel Robbins and Tatiyana Smith; juniors Riley Pike, Alison Scholz and Chloe Tretbar; sophomores Abby Felts and Kasen Girtz; and freshmen Halle Eischens and Anna Yliniemi.

Receiving Mid-State Conference honors were Peterson and Pike while Aukes, Ejaz and Felts earned all-conference honorable mention honors. Aukes, Hunter, Peterson and Robbins received academic all-state honors as the Panthers received an all-state academic Silver Award.

Peterson was named the team’s MVP and received the Panther Pride award after leading the Panthers with 217 digs while adding 16 ace serves, 81 service points and 16 set assists as a libero.

Aukes had 49 kills, 18 ace serves, 89 service points and 147 digs and an outside hitter.

Ejaz led the Panthers with 27 ace serves and 101 service points while contributing 36 kills, 159 digs and 182 set assists as a setter.

Hunter had 57 kills, 24 total blocks and 26 digs as a middle hitter.

Robbins had nine digs and five service points as an outside hitter while Smith was a defensive specialist who received the Team Spirit award.

Pike was the Panthers’ leader with 110 kills, 28 total blocks and 193 set assists while chipping in 148 digs, 25 ace serves and 99 service points as a setter.

Scholz contributed 23 kills, seven ace serves, 29 service points and 89 digs as an outside hitter.

Tretbar had 60 kills, six ace serves, 35 service points, 77 digs and 14 set assists as a middle hitter.

Felts tallied 94 kills, seven ace serves, 51 service points, 18 total blocks and 47 digs as an outside hitter.

Girtz had 37 digs and seven service points as an outside hitter.

Eischens joined the varsity late in the season and finished with 11 kills, 13 service points and 13 digs as an outside hitter

Yliniemi also moved up to varsity late in the season and had 10 kills, 12 service points and 20 digs as an outside hitter.

Replacing the four senior starters is going to be tough, but Sauer is looking forward to her team continuing to improve next fall.

“When we look at the goals established through the season, many of them were met and met numerous times. Acknowledging positive things, calling the ball, everyone celebrating, giving effort - those were successes. I enjoyed this team.

They are all incredible individuals. I am so happy that they allow me to share in the passion of this game with them,” said Sauer. “Huge shout out to the seniors for leading and teaching the future kids of our program how awesome it is to be a part of Park Rapids volleyball.

Expectations will continue to grow going into the offseason and preparing for next year. We can only hope to grow and get back to being a competitive force in our conference and section.”

SEASON STATISTICS

SERVING: Pike 190 for 205 (25 aces), Ejaz 183 for 202 (27 aces), Peterson 187 for 195 (16 aces), Aukes 165 for 180 (18 aces), Felts 105 for 130 (7 aces), Tretbar 72 for 81 (6 aces), Scholz 66 for 70 (7 aces), Eischens 25 for 30 (1 ace), Yliniemi 24 for 29 (5 aces), Girtz 13 for 16 (1 ace), Robbins 10 for 13 (1 ace), Hunter 3 for 3, Smith 0 for 1.

SERVICE POINTS: Ejaz 101, Pike 99, Aukes 89, Peterson 81, Felts 51, Tretbar 35, Scholz 29, Eischens 13, Yliniemi 12, Girtz 7, Robbins 5.

ATTACKS: Pike 481 (110 kills), Felts 293 (94 kills), Aukes 278 (49 kills), Tretbar 272 (60 kills), Hunter 225 (57 kills), Ejaz 183 (36 kills), Scholz 136 (23 kills), Eischens 47 (11 kills), Yliniemi 45 (10 kills), Gitz 9, Robbins 4 (1 kill).

SETS: Ejaz 807 (182 assists), Pike 805 (193 assists), Peterson 83 (16 assists), Tretbar 67 (14 assists), Aukes 36 (4 assists), Felts 33 (4 assists), Hunter 32 (5 assists), Scholz 23 (2 assists), Yliniemi 22 (3 assists), Girtz 6 (1 assist).

DIGS: Peterson 217, Ejaz 159, Pike 148, Aukes 147, Scholz 89, Tretbar 77, Felts 47, Girtz 37, Yliniemi 29, Hunter 26, Eischens 13, Robbins 9.

BLOCKS (SOLO-ASSISTS): Pike 8-20, Hunter 2-22, Felts 1-17, Tretbar 5-11, Scholz 2-4, Aukes 2-3, Ejaz 0-3, Robbins 0-1, Yliniemi 0-1.

SERVE RECEIVE: Peterson 464 for 500, Aukes 161 for 187, Tretbar 152 for 172, Scholz 117 for 132, Pike 101 for 119, Yliniemi 74 for 78, Girtz 36 for 43, Ejaz 14 for 17, Eischens 7 for 13, Hunter 6 for 7, Felts 5 for 6, Robbins 4 for 5, Smith 3 for 3.

Share this post