Kimball Volleyball held its 2024 season banquet on Nov. 19 at the high school. This season, the team’s motto was “Say Yes, We Can.” And this season, the Cubs did!
“We really focused on taking the opportunity presented to us and going at it 110%,” said head coach Tabitha Mortenson. “We knew we had some varsity experience returning, and we also knew we had underclassmen who were really hungry. Our varsity set the pace in our gym, and they didn’t look back. It was a joy and a privilege to be in the gym with the team every day. We worked really hard, had fun, learned so much, and we really competed this year.”
The Cubs finished the 2024 season 17-13 overall and tied for fourth in the Central Minnesota Conference. Maple Lake and BBE tied for first. Royalton took 3rd. Kimball went five sets with Maple Lake twice this season and went 5 sets with Royalton as well. The Cubs beat Paynesville, but our records for the conference were the same. We played the No. 1-ranked team and Class 3A State Champion, Delano, in our first match of the season at a preseason tournament. The Cubs also faced tough competition against Section 5AA Champion, Annandale, and several other competitive teams, some including Class 3A and Class 4A teams at the STMA tournament.
Several records were broken this 2024 fall season, which is always exciting to celebrate.
1. Varsity Letterwinners (12): Samantha Winter, Daisie Pramann, Laney Laudenbach, Isabelle Schmitz, Elliotte Becker, Adelle Tubridy, Jocelyn Zoller, Zoe Stuve, Mazie Jurek, Hope Kuechle, Claire Honer, Lexi Schindele.
2. Spotlight on Scholarship Award (23): Earning a 3.0 GPA or higher as a sophomore, junior or senior. Kimball had 23 girls receive this award.
3. All-Conference Academic (18): Earning a 3.75 GPA or higher as a sophomore, junior or senior. We had 18 girls receive this award.
4. All-Conference Players:
· First Team: Jocelyn Zoller and Ellie Becker
· Second Team: Isabelle Schmitz and Mazie Jurek
5. All-State Academic Gold TEAM Award for the Team GPA of 3.75 or higher. Coach Tabitha keeps saying, “I think it is time for banner!” Way to go Cubs!
6. All-State Academic Individual certificates: (For seniors only.)
Must have a 3.8 or higher: Ellie Becker, Laney Laudenbach, Zoe Stuve, Adelle Tubridy, Samantha Winter, and Jocelyn Zoller.
7. Team Voted Awards:
· Most Improved: Lexi Schindele
· Team Player Award: Zoe Stuve
· Co-Hustle Award: Ellie Becker and Mazie Jurek
· MVP: Jocelyn Zoller
8. Record breaker awards: These records are a testament to the hard work and improvement of so many people.
Match Records:
· Most Aces in a Match - Jocelyn Zoller edged out the old record of 11 with 12 against Cristo Rey Jesuit on 10/23/24.
· Most Assists in a Match - Jocelyn Zoller passed the previous record of 50 assists by dishing out 53 set assists against Maple Lake on 10/29/24. The most aces in a match had been standing since 2009, and the most assists had been standing since 2011.
· Most Digs in a Match was broken by Daisie Pramann. She had 39 digs against Royalton on 9/26/24, beating the old record of 36.
Season Records were also tied and broken:
· Most Aces: Most aces in a season was broken by Isabelle Schmitz. The old record was 51 and she finished with 62.
· Most Solo Blocks: Mazie Jurek is now in a 3-way tie for Most Solo Blocks with Sarah Gohman who set it in 2003 and Shannon Donnay who tied it in 2009.
9. Entering into the Top-5 Career Statistical Leaders
· Ellie is #2 with 817 career kills and #3 with a 2.58 career kill average.
· Ellie is also #2 with 111 career aces and #2 with 826 career digs.
· Isabelle hit #5 with 90 career aces and #3 with a 3.08 digs per game average.
· Jocelyn Zoller is at #2 with 1230 career assists, is the new career assist per game leader with 6.99, and is the newest member of the 1000+ Club with her 1,230 career set assists.
“On behalf of all the Kimball volleyball coaches and players, we would like to thank the parents who have supported your daughters along the way. We understand the commitment, the time you give, and the resources it takes to make these things happen. We hope you have enjoyed this experience of being part of something with your daughter. It is also with your efforts, that we can celebrate these great players!” said Mortenson. Congrats Kimball Volleyball on a great 2024 season.
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