Knights look to build on their first state and sectional titles | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo by Jake McNeill. The 2024 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team includes (front row, left to right) Brezlyn Buchert, Makenna Hesse, Taya Christensen, Laken Baartman, Avery Schreurs, Brianna Pattison, (back row) Sara Thooft, Ava Guida, Ava Karbo, Adalia Matzner, Dilyn Werkman, Brynn Borresen, Dru Ellefson and Paisley Thooft. The team is coached by head coach Daynica Brown and assistant coaches Neil Witte and Ashlei Hoffmann.

TYLER – After a historic run that saw it win its first sectional and state championships, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team is full of new faces trying to create their own identity in Knights history.

“The experience of being part of the state championships and overcoming obstacles that could not be overcome in the past gives the young players who come later more enthusiasm,” Said RTR head coach Daynica Brown. “They want to make a name for themselves, the team and RTR and make sure the RTR program stays very, very strong. They have big goals and big dreams this year, so they are striving for them and fighting for them.”

Last season, the Knights finished 30-6 with a strong lineup led by an all-star cast of seniors. Gabi Borresen, who will play volleyball for Dakota State University this year, was named Independent Player of the Year after posting a diverse stat line of 1,026 assists, 306 digs and 75 kills this season. She also finished her prep career with 2,184 assists for the Knights.

In the front row, Abby Carr finished her career with 1,375 kills, 125 blocks and 632 digs for the Knights, including team-leading 491 kills and 353 digs last season.

Ally Nelson posted 308 kills and 85 blocks last year on the opposing side, tied for the most blocks on the team. Camry Swanson also posted 146 kills and 69 blocks for the Knights, while Tatum Hess rotated between the front and back lines, posting 133 kills and 349 digs, tied for third on the team.

Having five seniors graduate with numbers like that can often be a burden on a program. Elite setters and spectacular hitters don’t just grow on trees. Still, Brown believes this team has what it takes to regroup and compete at the highest level again.

“The names will change, but these girls play at a very high level. They will not disappoint (the level of play),” Brown said: “They’re pushing boundaries, they’re playing aggressively, they’re doing things at a higher level than last year’s team, so they’re ready.”

“Last year they weren’t the names that were in the paper, but a lot of them played and gained experience throughout the year. And they practiced against the No. 1 team in the state constantly. So they’ve practiced against the best team in the state over 50 times (the starters), so every day… they’re excited and I expect it to be a great season for them.”

Brown isn’t the only one who believes this new group will find a way to win. The Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association has the Knights ranked fourth in the Class A preseason poll. They’re only behind No. 1 Mabel-Canton and No. 2 Mayer Lutheran, which they beat 3-1 in last year’s state championship match, and No. 3 Minneota, which they beat in five sets last season to win their first sectional title.

As if that wasn’t enough local competition for the Knights, they also face No. 5 Canby and No. 9 Wabasso in Section 3A. They will also face other strong teams from the area, such as last year’s other 3A South finalist, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda. But even with a young roster, the Knights aren’t letting it get them down.

“They are not afraid,” Brown spoke about her observations of her team during offseason practice games against top-class opponents both locally and as far away as Nebraska. “Normally new players are nervous because they don’t have that much experience. But they’re playing like they have that experience… It was nice to see them come in, just give it their all and play very, very well. I expect big things.”

While last year’s team was loaded with veteran hitters, this year’s veteran players are in the back row. Avery Schreurs returns as the team’s libero after being selected All-Tournament in Class A after scoring 68 digs in seven sets at the state championships. Schreurs was also selected to the Red Rock Conference first team last year, one of only three juniors to make the team.

“I think with all the younger players that are here now and the five older players that left last year, I definitely have a bigger role, but all of these girls have also improved this year,” said Schreurs. “We practice a lot and try to get the hitters to understand that it’s not just about defense, it’s about setting a block and landing your own shots, so it’s not just the defense that has to do that for the team. We’ve been playing in a lot of practice games this offseason and it’s been going really well, so I think our team will come together just like it did last year.”

Laken Baartman is also a defensive specialist, having recorded 22 digs as a substitute in the team’s last two state tournament games. Baartman got a late start in the offseason after leading the RTR softball team to its first state tournament appearance with 15 home runs on the season. Baartman said she took a few weeks off after the state tournament, but since her passion for volleyball matched that for softball, she quickly returned to the gym to prepare for the season.

“It was a great experience (to be part of RTR’s first state appearance in volleyball and softball). I would say it definitely gives everyone confidence for the state tournaments,” said Baartman. “It’s a really great experience and everyone wants to be part of it. I think it also boosts our spirits.”

Dilyn Werkman leads the front row as the only main starter from the state tournament to return to the net. She leads the returners with 101 kills and 43 blocks on the season. Brezlyn Buchert also played in every set at the state tournament, while Sara Thooft and Adalia Matzner also saw playing time last year.

“There is a lot of talent, so they fight and push each other,” said Brown. “They may not have as much consistency as the others when the seniors are out, but they’re strong, they’re aggressive, they go for it and there are a lot of opportunities for all of them. So I think a lot of athletes push each other to get better.”

Brown said she feels like this group has become more competitive with another year of experience at the varsity level. She added that it will be difficult for her as a coach to figure out where the players fit in the rotation because of their development, but that she has a good feeling about the team’s hitting and middle blocker strength.

“We have many right-wingers who can fill this gap,” said Brown. “They could have filled those positions last year, but they were just seniors and they did a good job. So you take the ones who have done it in the past.”

Brown specifically pointed out that Thooft stepped in at the decisive moment in his section championship game against Minneota, managing four blocks and four kills.

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton begins its title defense with a non-conference game in Cottonwood against Lakeview at 7:15 p.m. Their first home game is on August 27 against Minneota, and their first game in the Red Rock Conference is on September 10 against Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda.