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Photo by Jake McNeill Russell-Tyler-Ruthton outside attacker Sara Thooft (12) hits the ball between two Lakeview players during a girls volleyball game at Cottonwood on Thursday night. The Knights defeated the Lakers in straight sets in the teams’ season opener.
COTTONWOOD – After finishing last season as champions, the No. 4 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team started the 2024 season in similar fashion. With a new cast on the front line, four Knights recorded seven or more kills in the team’s straight-set victory over Lakeview on Thursday night by a final score of 25-12, 25-11, 25-12.
Sara and Paisley Thooft led the Knights’ attack with 12 and 10 kills respectively, while Ava Guida and Ava Karbo also played an important role, each scoring another seven kills on the night.
“I felt like the seniors really helped us feel included. They just made us feel like we were part of the team, not that we were younger or different,” Sara Thooft said after the match that she and Guida challenged each other towards the end of one of the sets to see who could get more kills. Sara Thooft and Karbo also scored two blocks each, while Guida and Paisley Thooft scored one block each.
RTR’s ability to disperse its attacks on the Knight was largely down to its setters Brezlyn Buchert and Dru Ellefson. Buchert said she was nervous at the start of the first set, but that her teammates helped build her up and ease her into the match.
The two took over from Gabi Borresen, who had been a mainstay in this position for the Knights in recent years. Nevertheless, the two were always able to distribute the ball to set up their teammates.
“I think (Buchert) did a great job using all the different bats, on the right side, in the middle or on the outside,” Said RTR head coach Daynica Brown. “She distributed the ball very well and Dru Ellefson did a fantastic job as well. They just got into that role.”
Buchert finished the night with 23 assists, the highest of the game, while Ellefson added another nine. Buchert’s 14 back-row saves also led the team, while Laken Baartman and libero Avery Schreurs added 12 and 10, respectively.
At the start of the first set, it looked as if the Knights hadn’t forgotten anything since their title match last fall. They took an early 15-3 lead before the Lakers fought back to within 7 points.
“We knew from the beginning that they would be a competitive team,” Said Lakeview head coach Alexis Lienemann. “We had to get a pass or get the ball up to score, so it’s all about team unity. Considering it was the first game, I’m very proud of what they did.”
The Lakers’ ability to overcome an early deficit was a theme all night. The Knights took an early lead in every set, but each time the Lakers caught up and made it competitive.
Nevertheless, the Knights were fully present in the decisive moments and ended each set with a decisive run so that the Lakers never came closer than 13 points to victory.
“I think we made a lot of mistakes at that point. We had a lot of failures, so I think our mistakes ultimately led to us being up there.” said Brown. “We just have to get a handle on it and not let them capitalize on it. They took advantage of their energy there, but those mistakes, it’s the first game of the season and the first time these girls are on the varsity court. Aside from Avery and Laken, it’s almost all new, inexperienced faces, so I thought they did fabulous, but we have to clean up.”
For the Lakers, Taylor Hinz led the offensive team with six kills, while Avery Hinz added three more kills. Setter Aubreigh Rausch had 14 assists on the day.
The game was Lienemann’s first as head coach after succeeding Stephanie Hennen, Lakeview’s longtime head coach.
“I approached the matter quite confidently because I have good assistant coaches under me and also a good administration,” Lienemann, a 2019 graduate of Lakeview High School, said. She specifically named assistant coaches Savanna Rausch and Missi Loe, as well as activities director Matthew Konrad and media specialist Phil Wollum. “They really helped me prepare so I wasn’t alone. I think it really takes a community and practicing what I preach when it comes to volleyball players. I can’t do this alone and therefore they can’t either.”
Schreurs led all players on the day with five aces, while Baartman added three more for the Knights. Sara Thooft and Makenna Hesse also contributed a service ace each.
RTR improves to 1-0 with the win. They will look to carry that momentum into their next game against BOLD in New Prague on Saturday at 5 p.m. before hosting No. 3 Minneota on Tuesday in a rematch of last year’s sectional championship and a battle of the top five teams in Class A.
Lakeview’s difficult start to the season continues on Tuesday with a game against No. 9 Wabasso at 7:15 p.m.
