The state volleyball tournaments concluded with notable performances from both the Stewartville Tigers and the Fillmore Central Falcons. Stewartville secured third place in the Class 3A competition, while Fillmore Central achieved fifth place in Class 1A, showcasing their resilience and skill.
Stewartville Tigers Claim Third Place
In a thrilling match on March 15, 2024, the Stewartville Tigers rebounded from a semifinal loss to the No. 2 seed, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, to clinch third place. Facing off against the No. 5 seed, Cretin-Derham Hall, the Tigers won in a nail-biting five-set match at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The final scores were 25-19, 25-23, 19-25, 24-26, and 15-10.
Senior middle hitter Matilda Dube led the charge with 15 kills, supported by seniors Ella Theobald and Dream Petersohn, who each contributed 13 kills. The squad’s offensive effort was bolstered by freshman outside hitter Sylvia Heusinkvelt, who added nine kills.
Setters played a crucial role as well; senior Abigail Langseth recorded 27 assists while freshman Clara Theobald added 24. On defense, senior defensive specialist Reagan Mittelstadt stood out with a match-high 22 digs, complemented by sophomore Spencer Nagel and sophomore defensive specialist Leah Hebl, who recorded 21 and 10 digs, respectively.
The match was characterized by intense competition, featuring 10 ties and six lead changes. With this victory, the Tigers concluded their season with an impressive overall record of 28-5. This marked their 26th appearance at the state volleyball tournament, adding to a legacy that includes five championship wins, the latest in 2019.
Fillmore Central Falcons Secure Fifth Place
In Class 1A, the Fillmore Central Falcons demonstrated their strength by sweeping No. 5 seed Cleveland in the fifth-place match. The Falcons, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, achieved a decisive victory with set scores of 25-22, 25-22, and 25-14.
Senior outside hitter Kyla Hellickson and sophomore middle hitter Madilyn Zwart both shone brightly, each contributing 12 kills to the team’s success. Additional support came from sophomore outside hitter Norah Nagel and junior middle hitter Lauren Dahly, who added nine and eight kills, respectively.
Setting up their teammates effectively, sophomore Hannah Vaalemoen and senior Aubrey Daniels delivered 16 and 15 assists. Defensively, junior libero Josiana Corson led the team with 21 digs, ensuring that the Falcons maintained control throughout the match.
Fillmore Central’s journey in the tournament included a challenging quarterfinal loss to No. 6 seed Ada-Borup-West before bouncing back to win against No. 7 Nevis and ultimately securing fifth place. The Falcons concluded their season with a commendable overall record of 27-7, marking their third appearance in the state volleyball tournament and further establishing their program’s growth.
Both Stewartville and Fillmore Central showcased remarkable athleticism and teamwork, leaving a lasting impression at the state tournaments and setting a positive tone for future seasons.
