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Unbeaten Wolves head south to Class A Showcase in Burnsville
It will take a 250-mile trip to the south, but the Ely Timberwolves will finally be tested this fall.
That much is certain as the unbeaten high school volleyball team takes part in the Class A Showcase this weekend in Burnsville.
The 11-0 Wolves haven’t lost a set yet this season and made quick work of visiting International Falls Tuesday night, but each of five matchups in the invitation-only Showcase figures to be a battle.
Ely, the two-time defending Section 7A champion and last year’s state consolation crown winner, will be one of many state powers in the two-day event that started Friday.
Most of last year’s state tournament field will be there, along with many other contenders in the running to take part in this year’s state tourney, set for November at St. Paul.
The Showcase was an eye-opener for the Wolves last year, as Ely went 0-5 and suffered its only regular season defeats.
Those were Ely’s only regular season losses in a stretch that dates back to October, 2021, and even those came with an asterisk of sorts - given a last-minute injury that sidelined senior and all-conference hitter Hannah Penke.
“There was the unfortunate event the night before that threw us for a loop and we had to completely change our offense on the fly,” said Ely Head Coach Megan Wognum. “But our girls persevered and hung in there.”
Ely has had little pushback from area opponents thus far, but will face a string of opponents over the weekend that will pose serious obstacles.
“I think it will be good this year and we’ll be a little more ready,” said Wognum. “We’ve been gearing up for this weekend the last three weeks and we’re really excited about it. We’re excited to see good competition that will make us better.”
After back-to-back trips to the state tournament, Wognum and the Wolves are rebuilding in part, with a lineup that includes two seniors and ca host of sophomores.
While difficult to compare teams from one year to the next, Ely’s coach likes what she has seen thus far from the 2024 Wolves.
“I feel like we’re just as competitive,” said Wognum. “We’ve worked really hard on defense and on strengthening our offense. I feel like we’ll be competitive down there again, or at least that’s the hope. We’re just excited to see some competition find our weaknesses and build on them.”
The Wolves had two Class A Showcase meetings Friday, and three more are set for Saturday.
• Ely, which has swept 19 consecutive best-of-five regular season contests, made number-19 look easy against International Falls.
Scores were 25-10, 25-7, 25-11 as the Wolves finished things off against the Class AA Broncos in less than an hour.
Setter Gretta Lowe spread the wealth among the arsenal of Ely’s hitters.
Lowe, a sophomore, finished with a match-high 35 set assists to pace the winners.
Senior Lilli Rechichi powered the offense with nine kills, while sophomores Charlotte Hegman and Audrey Kallberg contributed eight each. Senior Clare Thomas was next with five.
Ely was also potent at the serving line as Sadie Rechichi delivered seven aces and Thomas was next with six.
On defense, Peyton Huntington had 10 digs while Amelia Penke notched three kills and Lydia Shultz had two.
• The Wolves downed Mesabi East 25-15, 25-15, 25-8 in a Sept. 12 home contest.
Kallberg reached double digits in kills with 11, with Rechichi following with nine and Thomas with five.
Gretta Lowe passed her way to 23 assists while Rechichi, Kallberg and Thomas all had three ace serves.
