Lakeville South Volleyball Earns Share Of Conference Crown

One goal has been met for the volleyball team. Two more remain.         

The Cougars earned a share of the South Suburban Conference Crown by rallying to beat Eagan in five thrilling games Tuesday night. The 20-25, 25-11, 18-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory was the team’s 15th straight.

“Tonight we really wanted to prove that we deserved that conference title,” said outside hitter Elle Roesner. “Our whole goal is to get to state and to win state.”

Coach Jennifer Nelson said this group of players is pretty special.

“They’re a ‘Dream Team’ in every way, shape and form. They’re nice girls, they work hard. I just found out the other day our team GPA is 3.87. You can’t ask for any better kids.”

Tied 5-5 in the final game, the Cougars (24-1, 8-1 South Suburban Conference) scored four of the next five points — three on kills by McKell Anderson — for a 9-6 lead. Eagan got within 9-8, but the Cougars got kills from Anderson and Jazzmyn Tingelhoff to regain the three-point lead. A shot by Jade Tingelhoff off the block made it 12-9 and Monica Turner pushed a ball over into an open space in the Wildcats backcourt for a 13-9 lead.

“People just played out of their minds. They just give everything that they have of themselves, and it’s not selfish volleyball,” Nelson said. “They play for each other and they want to win for each other. They’re a true team.

“(Anderson) just took over. You got Allie Mosser in the back row just digging out everything. Without her we would not have been where we were. Jazzmyn spreading the offense; Jade (Tingelhoff), our freshman, coming through; Megan Heimerman digging out of her mind. It was just wow!” Roesner and Kaitlin VanWinkle were also strong throughout at the net.

Turner exemplified what this team will go through to complete its mission. The big middle hitter was her usual dominant self in the first couple of games, but began to feel light-headed in the third game. She tried to stay in the match, but was forced to rotate out quite often the rest of the way, usually going to the bench, drinking some water and putting her head between her knees. After the game she was lying on the floor with a bag of ice on her forehead while her teammates were congratulated by the Cougar fans.

"She put mind over matter and body and whatever and just went out there and played her heart out,” Nelson said. “She pushed through. Not many can.”

Eagan (17-4, 8-1) won a close first game, but Lakeville South roared back in the second to even the match.

“In previous years we’d let losing a game affect us, but this year we didn’t,” Roesner said. “It just makes us more confident.”

Eagan took game three for a 2-1 lead, but the Cougars never let doubt creep into their collective minds.

“We knew we could do well, and we wanted to prove it to ourselves and each other we can do it,” Anderson said. “We’ve got a good shot at doing well in sections.”

The Cougars have a first-round bye in section play, and are scheduled to open postseason play at home Oct. 28 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.