CAM FAGERHAUG AND KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN
While last week’s heartbreaking loss to Tripp/Delmont/Armour (TDA) in the third round of regions leaves the WSHS Lady Spartans just short of a trip to the coveted SoDak 16, our coaches, community and players seem to already be craving a comeback for next season.
“Our season end was bittersweet. I’m super proud of them,” praised Wessington Springs High School (WSHS) Head Coach Lynn Neely. “They were one of my first groups of fifth and sixth graders and it is so fun to watch them grow."
Neely said they are at the top of her nine years of coaching when it comes to chemistry, working together as a team, playing unselfishly and improvement overall.
“Now our returning players are already planning for goals in the offseason — no doubt they will work hard so we can reach those goals… next season they need to go out and get it,” said Coach Neely.
True Dakotan intern and Senior volleyball player Riley Roduner reflected on her final season as a Lady Spartan.
“We were able to bring school spirit back in our gym, I’m proud of that. We had some sort of a student section at every single game, home or away and we really appreciated seeing that as players.”
Coach Neely added, “It started right away this season, but enthusiasm hit an all time high at the Woonsocket game. More people were traveling to see us and I would hear about so many people watching it on TV. That says something to the sport of volleyball. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the stands full for a volleyball game. It was so encouraging to hear Pin Twisters had it on for folks to watch. The girls had no idea so many were rooting for them from bars, restaurants and at home in their living rooms. My son AJ even had a group of friends in his barracks watching the game, cheering on the Spartans from 29 Palms, California.”
More goals bumped and set
“I’m extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish,” outgoing senior Roduner explains. “Four years ago we had only won three games on the season. The following year we won seven. Last year we won 14 and this year we won 23 in the regular season going on to win the second round of regions. Sadly we, lost our third round. We juniors and seniors have been playing together since 7th grade and have such good chemistry on the court. We’ve really stuck with it and helped level each other up to make each other better.”
When asked about regions, Roduner’s smile diminishes.
“It was a tough loss. We came into the final game already losing to TDA twice, but that didn’t discourage us. We were so pumped and ready to win,” she explained.
“We played so hard the first set, lost that first and second set, in the third set it was tough but we pushed through and ended up winning that,” Roduner continued. “After we went on to win four, some girls started to get emotional. I said guys we’re not done yet… we’ve still got the fifth set to play!”
Some questionable referee calls were tough to swallow but didn’t dampen the Lady Spartan’s spirits.
“In the fifth set, at one point we were up 14-11 and lost the ball. All we had to get was one more point and we were going to So Dak 16 for the first time in forever,” Roduner reflected. “I have to give it to our opponents, they had a great server and played well. We played until the very last point but were just not able to cross the finish line to make it to SoDak 16.”
Coach Neely echoed those sentiments.
“These girls played their best, they never gave up… which is huge. They could have folded after that second set. It is saying something that every set was within four points, some really good high level volleyball was being played and that was the goal,” Neely stated. “We came to compete, get more wins and really show people what we were made of. I think we did.”
The WSHS Lady Spartans ended their season 24-9.
“Those juniors are going to go far next year. Ever since our eighth grade year the junior’s goal was to hang a banner in our gym. We may not have made it this year, but I have a feeling they’ll be back. They’ll go far, I’m sure of it!” Roduner added.
Covering their goals for the next season
This season’s stat leaders, not just on the team but also in the state were juniors, offering an exciting look to next season. A few numbers to watch for 2023 are:
Raylee Fagerhaug — only 20 digs away from 1000.
Avery Orth had 435 kills this season alone and is only 133 away from career 1000. Orth is also ranked number 4 in Class B. She is 155 digs away from 1000, had 102 blocks this year, ranking her second in the state for Class B.
Alyssa Grohs had 749 assists this year, and is 22 assists away from career 2000. This ranks her 5th in the state. Grohs also just reached 1000 digs this season.
In the serving department, Carissa Scheel led us in aces, 55 for the year. She is ranked 16th in the state for Class B.
For serve receive, Ashlyn Weber, a sophomore, led with over 345 receptions.
