Lady Jaguar Volleyball - Tremor in Section 6AA
The Lady Jaguars huddle up during the first part of their final home match before playoffs begin in earnest next Thursday, October 26th. Needless to say, it's time to dig down and work together to write another chapter in our volleyball program's history.Tremor in Section 6AA...
The Montevideo Thunderhawks quite literally served notice tonight that they are not to be taken lightly by anyone, and after being snubbed in the state ranking polls, even with a 21-2 overall record, they made a strong statement about how powerful their team is by knocking down undefeated and fourth-ranked (Class AA) St.Cloud Cathedral in four games.
The match was held at Montevideo high school, a place that Jaguar fans from the 1990's may remember as being quite the hostile environment, and a place we were always happy to come away with a win from. St.Cloud Cathedral learned how tough a true high school atmosphere really is when they ran into a buzzsaw, picking up game one 25-21 but then dropping the final three, 25-19, 29-27, 25-18.
Since 1997, when Montevideo won its first West Central South Conference title in volleyball, the Thunderhawks have been one of the better programs in west central Minnesota. They have had only one losing season since 1997, that coming just last year, when they went 12-13 overall and went 1-1 in the playoffs. They have suffered numerous playoff upsets since 1997, though, and have never gotten out of their sub-section.
This year they are led by a new head coach, Joanna Naumann, who was previously their assistant. Somehow the new mix is working, being helped by the fact that they return their entire starting lineup from 2005 and that they are 12 players deep. One of their leading hitters, Brooke Moseng, has two older sisters who were standout athletes for Montevideo dating back to 1999. Brooke undoubtedly remembers those playoff losses her sisters endured and is leading the 2006 team towards playoffs with a vengeance.
It reminds one of our Lady Jaguars' playoff run in 2005, when they demolished all section opponents and would not be denied "state" under any circumstance, after falling one or two wins short of "state" four of the previous five seasons.
(STATS FROM THE ST.CLOUD TIMES):
Montevideo 3, St. Cloud Cathedral 0
It must be noted that Montevideo's strength-of-schedule pales in comparison to our Lady Jaguar's schedule. While local fans, including myself, have often said we need tougher opponents on our regular-season schedule, the truth is that we in fact do have a tough schedule and play a number of quality opponents in conference, non-conference, and weekend tournament matches. (With the exception of the Minnewaska tournament, which hasn't had a tough opponent for our Lady Jaguars since 2003.)
When one looks at Montevideo's schedule, it's noteworthy that they have a large number of "cupcakes" and Class "A" teams. So they're 22-2 record is nothing to brag about.
Then when you look at St.Cloud Cathedral's schedule, you will learn that tonight's Montevideo win over the Crusaders was not that shocking of an event.
See this link to find the schedules for all Class "AA" volleyball teams:
http://www.minnesota-scores.com/classstandings.php?yid=0607&sport=120&class=3
Scroll down to "Section 5AA" and "Section 6AA" to find Montevideo, St.Cloud Cathedral, and our Lady Jaguars.
*******************************************************************************
Strength-of-schedule matters 100% of the time.
In 1994 our Lady Jaguars went through an undefeated volleyball season, 22-0, before being thumped by Sauk Centre twice in playoff action (inter-conference, and sub-section). Sauk had about a half-dozen losses, but was a better team in the playoffs. Their strong schedule gave them the stamina needed to edge our Lady Jaguars in the sub-section championship match that year 3-2, the full five games.
In 1995, our Lady Jaguars lost only once in regular-season play (to New London-Spicer), to finish 21-1 before playoffs and as West Central South conference champions for the second straight season (tied with NL-S for the crown). Though being seeded number two, they were swiftly knocked out of sub-sections in a sweep during the semi-final match against a 14-7 Sauk Centre team, a very tough loss indeed. Current Lady Jaguar C-squad coach Mandy Illies was a sophomore on that team and could vividly tell you about that season and it's heartbreaking ending.
******************************************************************************
Before our Lady Jaguars would see Montevideo in a possible Section Final matchup on November 4th at the University of Minnesota-Morris, they have to get out of their district tournament. Beating Sauk Centre is the most likely path to achieving their third-straight district championship.
Sauk Centre has only three quality wins, over Class AAA teams Sauk Rapids (18-6) and Melrose (15-11) twice. They have quality losses against Jordan (26-1) and St.Cloud Cathedral (26-1). They have a tie against Maccray (12-8-2) in a weekend tournament. Every other match the Mainstreeters have played was against average or below-average teams, especially in the West Central North, which had bad teams in their fourth-through-eighth-place finishers.
Our girls will return to state. They have really turned up their passing and defense, starting at the Willmar tournament on October 6th. Everyone talks about Sauk Centre and how bad they want to beat us in sub-sections and return their program to state for the first time since 2001. What everyone forgets is that our girls were there last year; Sauk was not.
It gives our team an edge as well as more focus and determination to return.
They have unfinished business to take care of. Sauk and Monte will try, but they will not get in the way of our team.
******************************************************************************
Here are the teams of our sub-section, including their overall records heading into playoffs. I have listed them in my predicted order they will be seeded. Holdingford (8th) and Paynesville (9th) will meet in a "pigtail" match to determine who would play the top seed.
Our Lady Jaguars will probably get Holdingford in their first match. Eden Valley-Watkins could be their district semi-final opponent for the second straight season, and they will thoroughly enjoy thrashing the Eagles as revenge for their Homecoming loss on September 28. Then comes Sauk Centre.
Two conference opponents and then a neighbor to the north will make for an exciting district tournament.
The Montevideo Thunderhawks quite literally served notice tonight that they are not to be taken lightly by anyone, and after being snubbed in the state ranking polls, even with a 21-2 overall record, they made a strong statement about how powerful their team is by knocking down undefeated and fourth-ranked (Class AA) St.Cloud Cathedral in four games.
The match was held at Montevideo high school, a place that Jaguar fans from the 1990's may remember as being quite the hostile environment, and a place we were always happy to come away with a win from. St.Cloud Cathedral learned how tough a true high school atmosphere really is when they ran into a buzzsaw, picking up game one 25-21 but then dropping the final three, 25-19, 29-27, 25-18.
Since 1997, when Montevideo won its first West Central South Conference title in volleyball, the Thunderhawks have been one of the better programs in west central Minnesota. They have had only one losing season since 1997, that coming just last year, when they went 12-13 overall and went 1-1 in the playoffs. They have suffered numerous playoff upsets since 1997, though, and have never gotten out of their sub-section.
This year they are led by a new head coach, Joanna Naumann, who was previously their assistant. Somehow the new mix is working, being helped by the fact that they return their entire starting lineup from 2005 and that they are 12 players deep. One of their leading hitters, Brooke Moseng, has two older sisters who were standout athletes for Montevideo dating back to 1999. Brooke undoubtedly remembers those playoff losses her sisters endured and is leading the 2006 team towards playoffs with a vengeance.
It reminds one of our Lady Jaguars' playoff run in 2005, when they demolished all section opponents and would not be denied "state" under any circumstance, after falling one or two wins short of "state" four of the previous five seasons.
(STATS FROM THE ST.CLOUD TIMES):
Montevideo 3, St. Cloud Cathedral 0
MONTEVIDEO — Anna Zyovolski had 27 kills, but St. Cloud Cathedral (14-0 West Central, 26-1 overall) fell.
Montevideo 21-25-29-25, St. Cloud Cathedral 25-19-27-18
St. Cloud Cathedral highlights — Andrea Harstad 10 kills, 6 blocks; Anna Zyovolski 27 kills, 4 digs, 1 block, 1 ace serve; Allison Croat 2 kills; Mara Brixius 1 block, 6 kills; Deanna Novak 9 digs; Tori Brixius 6 digs; Alex Lenzen 4 digs, 1 ace serve; Nina Lindquist 42 set assists, 7 digs, 4 blocks, 2 ace serves.
Montevideo highlights unavailable.
******************************************************************************It must be noted that Montevideo's strength-of-schedule pales in comparison to our Lady Jaguar's schedule. While local fans, including myself, have often said we need tougher opponents on our regular-season schedule, the truth is that we in fact do have a tough schedule and play a number of quality opponents in conference, non-conference, and weekend tournament matches. (With the exception of the Minnewaska tournament, which hasn't had a tough opponent for our Lady Jaguars since 2003.)
When one looks at Montevideo's schedule, it's noteworthy that they have a large number of "cupcakes" and Class "A" teams. So they're 22-2 record is nothing to brag about.
Then when you look at St.Cloud Cathedral's schedule, you will learn that tonight's Montevideo win over the Crusaders was not that shocking of an event.
See this link to find the schedules for all Class "AA" volleyball teams:
http://www.minnesota-scores.com/classstandings.php?yid=0607&sport=120&class=3
Scroll down to "Section 5AA" and "Section 6AA" to find Montevideo, St.Cloud Cathedral, and our Lady Jaguars.
*******************************************************************************
Strength-of-schedule matters 100% of the time.
In 1994 our Lady Jaguars went through an undefeated volleyball season, 22-0, before being thumped by Sauk Centre twice in playoff action (inter-conference, and sub-section). Sauk had about a half-dozen losses, but was a better team in the playoffs. Their strong schedule gave them the stamina needed to edge our Lady Jaguars in the sub-section championship match that year 3-2, the full five games.
In 1995, our Lady Jaguars lost only once in regular-season play (to New London-Spicer), to finish 21-1 before playoffs and as West Central South conference champions for the second straight season (tied with NL-S for the crown). Though being seeded number two, they were swiftly knocked out of sub-sections in a sweep during the semi-final match against a 14-7 Sauk Centre team, a very tough loss indeed. Current Lady Jaguar C-squad coach Mandy Illies was a sophomore on that team and could vividly tell you about that season and it's heartbreaking ending.
******************************************************************************
Before our Lady Jaguars would see Montevideo in a possible Section Final matchup on November 4th at the University of Minnesota-Morris, they have to get out of their district tournament. Beating Sauk Centre is the most likely path to achieving their third-straight district championship.
Sauk Centre has only three quality wins, over Class AAA teams Sauk Rapids (18-6) and Melrose (15-11) twice. They have quality losses against Jordan (26-1) and St.Cloud Cathedral (26-1). They have a tie against Maccray (12-8-2) in a weekend tournament. Every other match the Mainstreeters have played was against average or below-average teams, especially in the West Central North, which had bad teams in their fourth-through-eighth-place finishers.
Our girls will return to state. They have really turned up their passing and defense, starting at the Willmar tournament on October 6th. Everyone talks about Sauk Centre and how bad they want to beat us in sub-sections and return their program to state for the first time since 2001. What everyone forgets is that our girls were there last year; Sauk was not.
It gives our team an edge as well as more focus and determination to return.
They have unfinished business to take care of. Sauk and Monte will try, but they will not get in the way of our team.
******************************************************************************
Here are the teams of our sub-section, including their overall records heading into playoffs. I have listed them in my predicted order they will be seeded. Holdingford (8th) and Paynesville (9th) will meet in a "pigtail" match to determine who would play the top seed.
Our Lady Jaguars will probably get Holdingford in their first match. Eden Valley-Watkins could be their district semi-final opponent for the second straight season, and they will thoroughly enjoy thrashing the Eagles as revenge for their Homecoming loss on September 28. Then comes Sauk Centre.
Two conference opponents and then a neighbor to the north will make for an exciting district tournament.
Section 6AA-District 17 teams:
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (25-3)
Sauk Centre (20-4-1)
Eden Valley-Watkins (12-10)
Osakis (14-13-1)
New London – Spicer (7-19)
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (7-12)
Holdingford (9-13)
Paynesville (0-18)
posted by littleguy @ 12:19 AM
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