Then after seeing them play in the first two weeks, I boldly said to Tina Lensing at the Howard Lake Tournament: "I don't see anyone on their schedule that can beat them." That was right as the team was warming up to play Melrose, who gave them their first loss. So yep that one was my fault for opening my mouth.
The Eden Valley loss was a numbing shocker, no doubt...but they regrouped and played excellent volleyball after that and gave us a team to be proud of in the playoffs.
That's what we all want, a team to do well in playoffs, and that's what we had. I'm sure everyone knows of Jaguar teams in the past who have had a hard time repeating anything, which can be from a variety of reasons, mainly just by having a target on your back (possibly the biggest source of motivation to your opponents). I don't know any magic formula for "repeating" success...but for our girls to go 28-4 two seasons in a row is something to be proud of.
2006 Lady Jaguar Volleyball Wrapup
In a signal of respect and deference to the talent the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Lady Jaguar volleyball team had this season, conference coaches named all six starters the All-Central Minnesota Conference squad. The Lady Jaguar's trio of hard-swinging hitters, April Hansen, Ashley Lensing, and Heidi Lensing, all made the first team, with Emily Roelike, Katie Gruber, and Sarah Gruber making spots on the second team. They tied Maple Lake for the CMC championship, their fourth conference title since 2000.
Senior hitters April Hansen and Ashley Lensing made All-State or All-Area teams, with Hansen
being named to the Associated Press All-State team, and her and Lensing being named to the West Central Tribune All-Area squad.
This year's Most Valuable Player award went to April Hansen, and the Most Improved Player award was earned by Lindsay Goodwin. The Hustle award went to the team's leading defensive player, Emily Roelike, who played most of the season at the Libero position.
Other team awards, voted on by the coaches and players, were as follows: Rookie of the Year: Sarah Gruber, Jag Spirit award: Katie Gruber, Total Team Player: Ashley Lensing.
A highly coveted award that all players on the squad should relish in was the selection of April Hansen as the CMC Player of the Year. As the smallest school in the CMC, everyone can be proud of that accomplishment.
Captains for 2007 will be Sarah Gruber, their seasoned returning setter, and Heidi Lensing, a player whose hitting skills grew leaps and bounds and who will be heavily relied upon next season. Emily Roelike, Jena Schroeder, Lindsay Goodwin, and Jenny Hieserich are the other returning varsity players who look to the off-season as their stepping stone to another successful volleyball season next fall.