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LAMBERTON — Four Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball players made the all-Red Rock Conference team.
Red Rock Conference league secretary Bryce Pack released postseason honors to the media on Sunday, Nov. 9, after conclusion of the Minnesota State High School League tournament.
A coaches meeting was conducted to vote on the honors in mid-October at Slayton, RTR head coach Daynica Brown reported to The Pipestone County Star.
“It’s quite an honor, and it speaks a lot about our team,” Brown said. “The girls worked very hard, and the coaches and conference recognized that.”
Knights’ senior middle blocker Ava Karbo, senior setter Brezlyn Buchert, junior libero Laken Baartman and junior outside hitter Sara Thooft were the first-team selections.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Laken Baartman pushes the ball forward during a Minnesota State High School League Class A state tournament match versus Nevis on Thursday, Nov. 6. Baartman was the undisputed leader on defense in the region, accumulating 564 digs and more than 1,000 in her career so far. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Edgerton Public’s Reese Vande Griend and Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Danika Nordby also earned their way onto the Red Rock’s elite team.
Edgerton Public’s Reese Vande Griend (11) receives a serve from the back row during a Tuesday, Sept. 9 Red Rock Conference match versus Southwest Minnesota Christian. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Brown said Sara Thooft provided a strong all-around game and also was noted for her serve placement. She finished with a team-best 355 kills to go with 47 aces, 26 ace blocks (solo and assists combined) and 279 digs.
Sara Thooft was recognized for her play during the Class A state tournament, performing well in all facets including serving.(Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Baartman continued to impress this season with 564 digs in leading the region — surpassing 1,000 in her storied scholastic career. She also served 33 aces.
“Laken was a leader for our defense,” Brown said.
Buchert supplied 479 assists, served a team-best 49 aces, scooped 249 digs and recorded a combination of 18 solo and assisted ace blocks — the last figure outstanding for her player in her position.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Brezlyn Buchert (left) and Ava Karbo put up a block during a Southwest Challenge match at Marshall High School on Saturday, Sept. 6. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“She stepped up with her setting and her serve receive,” Brown said. “She was the quarterback of our team, and fed our hitters.”
Karbo, also an all-state selection, pounded 282 kills and had the team lead in combined ace blocks with 63.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton senior middle blocker Ava Karbo holds her Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class A all-state award on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul. (Contributed photo from the Karbo family)
“She was a great wall with her blocking, and she gave us great energy,” Brown noted.
Vande Griend also served as a wall on the front row with 71 ace blocks (solo and assisted) plus 276 kills, 178 digs and 27 ace serves. She averaged 3.4 kills per set.
Norby was one of the Eagles’ top players, finishing with 153 kills.
Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Danika Nordby (9) jumps hit for a potential kill during a Thursday, Sept. 9 match versus Edgerton Public. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Four area players were honorably mentioned in RTR junior middle blocker Brynn Borresen and RTR junior outside hitter Paisley Thooft, Edgerton’s Kya Voge and Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Tylee Kooiker.
Borresen had 202 kills and 57 ace blocks combined and Paisley Thooft was strong in the all-around game (310 kills, 102 digs, 34 combined blocks).
Voge served up an Edgerton-best 41 aces and supplied 106 digs and 105 kills.
Kooiker pounded down 218 kills and had 16 solo ace blocks.
Brown also reported RTR received a Gold Academic Award (grade-point average of at least 3.75 or higher) from the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association. Buchert was named an both an academic all-state and Red Rock Conference all-academic selection.
To make the Red Rock Conference all-academic team, student-athletes must be a senior in academic standing with a grade-point average at 3.65 or higher.
All-conference honors also were presented in cross country. The top-10 boys and girls runners received recognition based on their performance at the league meet conducted on Oct. 13 at Fulda Town and Country Golf Course.
RED ROCK CONFERENCE
Standings
Team W-L
RTR 9-0
WWG 8-1
A/E 7-2
HLOF 5-4
MCC 5-4
Hills-BC 3-6
Red Rock 3-6
Edgerton 2-7
SWC 2-7
MLAC 1-8
First-Team Selections
Brezlyn Buchert, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; Ava Karbo, RTR; Laken Baartman, RTR; Sara Thooft, RTR; Reese Vande Griend, Edgerton Public; Danika Nordby, Southwest Minnesota Christian; Ellamae Peters, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey; Leah Carter, Westbrook/Walnut Grove; Carlie Ross, WWG; Hadley Jenniges, WWG; Brylee Zebe, Adrian-Ellsworth; Kamry Lehnhoff, A-E; Ava Fisher, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda; Andrea Lang, HLOF; Renae Salentiny, HLOF; Kate Blankenship, Murray County Central; Suttyn Schryvers, MCC; Brynn Bakken, Hills-Beaver Creek; Abby Evans, Red Rock Central; and Natasha Erickson, RRC
Honorable Mentions
Brynn Borresen, RTR; Paisley Thooft, RTR; Kya Voge, Edgerton; Tylee Kooiker, SWC; Sydney Foster, WWG; Mersaydes Marten, A-E; Charlee Lehnhoff, A-E; Ava Deacon, MCC; Olivia Deelstra, Hills-BC; Ally Linder, RRC; Phithsada Phoumivong, MLAC
CROSS COUNTRY
All-Red Rock Conference
(Top-10 at meet)
Boys
Cooper Evers, MLAC; Aiden Appel, Murray County Central/Fulda; Joseph Torres, MLAC; Jonah Uilk, Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton; Alexander Betz, MCC/Fulda; Matthew Stapek, MCC/Fulda; Darwin Demarrias-Jansma, Adrian-Ellsworth; Gideon Winger, MLAC; Beckett Stelter, MCC/Fulda; Micah Janssen, MCC/Fulda
Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Jonah Uilk placed sixth overall in the varsity boys race with a time of 17:12.45. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Girls
Laiken Farris, MLAC; Katie Johnson, MLAC; Hannah Masselink, SWC-E; Summer Labrune, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; Julia Brinkman, MLAC; Olivia Bullerman, A-E; Hannah Beyer, MLAC; Lucy Thier, A/E; and Emily Johnson, MLAC
Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Hannah Masselink races toward the finish line during the 58th Annual Turkey Trot at the Prairie View Nature Preserve north of Worthington on Thursday, Sept. 11. Masselink was second overall. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Runners Amelia Bucher and Alivia Fruechte of Pipestone, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Summer Labrune and Luverne’s Summer Mollberg form a pack at the halfway mark of the varsity girls’ race. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
ACADEMIC HONORS
Cross Country
Yordi Oliverdoes, MCC/Fulda; Matthew Stapek, MCC/Fulda; Julia Brinkman, MLA-C/Red Rock Central; Fairlane Penner, MLA-C/Red Rock Central; Jaeryn Buchert, RTR; Taya Christensen, RTR; Ava Guida, RTR; Summer Labrune, RTR; Jonah Norgaard, RTR; Hannah Masselink, SWC-E
Volleyball
Brezlyn Buchert, RTR; Ava Karbo, RTR; Alyvia Brands, SWC; Gracelyn Fick, SWC; Danika Nordby, SWC; Brooklyn Talsma, SWC; Elia Vis, SWC; Mia Vis, SWC; Leah Carter, W/WG; Carlie Ross, W/WG; Ambrosia Yang, W/WG; Kate Blankenship, MCC; Ava Deacon, MCC; Lila Scandrett, MCC; Shandra Cuperus, A-E; Clara Joens, A-E; Maggie Lenz, A-E; Aurora Lewis, A-E; Mersaydes Marten, A-E; Kaylan Urdahl, A-E; Sophie Wieneke, A-E; Makenzie Bonitz, HLOF; Valerie Flores, HLOF; Ellie Freking, HLOF; Addysen Hendel, HLOF; Katelynn Johnson, HLOF; Andrea Lang, HLOF; Claire Knobloch, HBC; Mya Erickson, HBC; Ella Sammons, HBC; Hadley Spath, HBC; Ellamae Peters, MLAC; Gracie Peters, MLAC; Kylie Phommachan, MLAC; Nadia Phommachan, MLAC; Ashlyn Pfeiffer, MLAC and Phithsada Phouminvong, MLAC