CHAMPS!

The 2018 B-B-E Jaguars varsity volleyball team on picture day earlier this season.

Conference champions!

It has a nice ring to it! A really awesome ring if you ask me!

For the first time since 2015, the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team has earned the label of Central Minnesota Conference champions. The Jaguars did so by finishing 6-1 in the league this fall. Tonight at Pierz, they defeated the Pioneers 25-16, 25-15, 25-18. As a team, they hit a tremendous 35.6 percent on attacks - that type of hitting will do wonders on a volleyball court!

As a sports reporter in this business without interruption since 2003, I have to give special emphasis to how much respect I have for the players and coaches in the B-B-E volleyball program. I've been court-side for countless exciting, thrilling B-B-E volleyball wins - far too many to mention here - plus a handful of extremely difficult, heartbreaking losses. It is never, ever easy winning championships at any level in any sport. For the Jaguars to stay at or near the top of the CMC since 2000 is really, truly an incredible feat. They do so with style, class and humility. Those are qualities that will carry these players through life long after they graduate from B-B-E.

The Jaguars will share the CMC title with Maple Lake, who has now earned conference championship status every season since 2013 with the exception of 2015. B-B-E and Pierz shared the CMC title in 2006. From 2007 to 2012, the Jaguars did not lose a CMC match while winning the title six straight years.

Since 2003, the CMC has been won by either B-B-E, Maple Lake or a combination of the two. In 2002, Pierz and B-B-E shared the CMC volleyball title. I don't recall who won the CMC in 2001, but the Jaguars won the CMC with an 8-0 record in 2000. That was the third conference title overall in B-B-E history earned by our volleyball team. The first was in 1994, when they finished with a perfect record (14-0) in the West Central South Conference. The Jaguars shared the WCCS title in 1995 with New London-Spicer (13-1).

Next: the Jaguars (21-4) host Swanville for Seniors Night on Monday, October 22 to close out the regular season. Read more volleyball coverage in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

Below, here's a link to the Bonanza Valley Voice photo gallery from Dig Pink night on October 4 (also Homecoming!): https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-Fall-Sports-18/BBE-volleyball-Dig-Pink-night-10-04.

"Live boldly. Push yourself. Never settle."
##ConquerEveryDay!