High School Girls Volleyball Focus: Century setter is playing well beyond her years
ROCHESTER — Last season wasn't easy for Laney Stellmaker, just an eighth grader and already tossed into Century's varsity starting volleyball lineup.
There is inherent pressure with that, a self-inflicted need to prove oneself to the older teammates.
One year later, after a rather nondescript first varsity season, there has been nothing ho-hum about what Stellmaker is accomplishing now.
Any wondering about whether she really belongs on the varsity has long ago been tossed out.
"Last year, she said that the environment intimidated her," said Century standout senior outside hitter Ava Decker. "But she's not at all intimidated now. She's super competitive and she just keeps pushing us to get better. She knows what she's doing."
There have been recent matches where the freshman setter looks much closer to a master than a varsity novice.
On Sept. 10 in a 3-1 win over Mankato East, she came through with this stellar statistical line: 45 assists, 10 digs, 7 kills, 5 ace serves and 1 block.
On Sept. 5, in a 3-1 win over Winona, her line was similarly gaudy: 34 assists, 14 kills and 4 ace serves.
Yes, Laney Stellmaker is on her way to not just be a competent varsity setter, but potentially a star.
"I think this year I'm just a lot more confident," said Stellmaker, whose mother Jessica Stellmaker is Century's first-year head coach after being an assistant last year. "I'm a lot more comfortable and I really like the atmosphere of the team. I feel like this year we have a lot more energy. That helps when you're playing. It gives you a boost."
The biggest boost for Laney came from how she spent from November through June. Besides going on a growth spurt that took her from 5-6 to 5-9, she was a member of the elite Northern Lights club team, which does its thrice-weekly practicing in Burnsville, with matches on Saturdays.
That's a lot of volleyball. But the dividends that Stellmaker received from it have matched the time spent.
Stellmaker is a vastly better and more knowledgeable player now.
"I think I'm just a lot smarter in matches now," Stellmaker said. "After going to Northern Lights, I gained a lot of confidence. I think the best part of my game now is my court awareness, knowing what's going on on the other side (of the net) and knowing how to run our offense."
Jessica Stellmaker gave an example of how wisely and efficiently Laney now runs Century's sets. In a recent match, she gave instructions to fellow varsity freshman Jules Miller, a middle hitter.
"She told Jules, 'I'll set it to you and you tip it to the four spot (on the other side of the net),' " Jessica said.
A few seconds later, it was done and Century had earned another point.
A freshman coach on the floor? Well, yeah, a good share of the time. That comes not just from her time with Northern Lights, but from her having been immersed in volleyball from her earliest days.
Jessica has forever been coaching volleyball and Laney forever tagging along.
"She has been in the gym practically since she was a baby," Jessica said. "With it, her knowledge of the game is at such a deeper level than most players. She has great court awareness. She can look at the court and know how to score a point. That's helped us a lot in our last few matches, because our hitters are so young."
As efficiently as Stellmaker has played, already with 232 assists, 55 kills, 114 digs and 9 ace blocks in 10 matches (Century is 5-5 overall), it's not what Laney does physically that pleases her mom/coach most.
Instead, it is how she conducts herself and provides a constant positive vibe.
"She is always cheering for everyone else and excited when someone does something good," Jessica said. "She is a good kid. We're really proud of her."
Chatfield star outside hitter Jaelyn LaPlante reached a milestone on Sept. 10 when she delivered the 1,000th kill of her career. It came in a 3-0 win over perennial mutual power Caledonia. LaPlante has been a Chatfield starter since her freshman year. She now has 1,021 kills, including 129 this season.
On Sept. 17, longtime Mabel-Canton varsity player Sahara Morken also came through with a milestone. The senior recorded her 4,000th set assist in a 3-0 win over Houston. M-C has yet to lose a match this season.
Laney Stellmaker, Century
Just a freshman and already in her second year as a starter, Stellmaker is turning into a go-to player for the Panthers. She sure was on Sept. 10 in a 3-1 win over Mankato East. The 5-foot-9 setter finished with 45 assists, 10 digs, 7 kills, 5 ace serves and 1 block. Five days earlier she had a 34-assists, 14-kills and 4-aces night.
Lauren Stumpf, Wabasha-Kellogg
Stumpf showed off her back-row skills with 28 assists and 21 digs in a four-set win Sept. 12 over St. Charles. The senior also added six kills.
Karsyn Winchell, Cannon Falls
An outside hitter, Winchell had 29 kills, 28 digs and 2 blocks for the Bombers in a 3-2 win Sept. 17 over formidable Pine Island. Older sister Jaci Winchell is currently starring at Winona State University.
Paisley Peterson, Zumbrota-Mazeppa
It came in a 3-1 loss to Stewartville, but it was quite a showing on Sept. 17 by senior setter Peterson. She delivered 43 set assists.
Abby Sorgatz, Southland
Sorgatz did everything she could to allow Southland's marathon 3-2 win over Kingsland on Sept 17. That included flying around enough to come up with 53 digs, a rare feat. Teammate Maren Wehrenberg sure did her part, too, with 48 assists.
Kylie Minnich, Stewartville
It was a beautifully balanced effort by Minnich in a 3-1 win over Pine Island. The senior had 36 digs and 11 kills against the talented Panthers.
Nobody has beaten No. 1 Class 1A ranked Mabel-Canton and nobody has come close. Holy Family Catholic is the only team to win a set off the Cougars. This could be the year Lonnie Morken wins his first state title. Mabel-Canton has one of the best setters in the state, Sahara Morken. The senior recorded her 4,000th career set on Sept. 17 in a 3-0 win over Houston.
The Gophers are ranked second in the state in Class 2A and have just two losses, to Park of Cottage Grove and Cretin-Derham Hall in the Apple Valley Tournament. There is talent galore here.
There are three teams in southeastern Minnesota that are ranked in the state polls and Byron is one of them. The Bears come in at No. 5 in Class 3A. The Bears got a scare Sept. 17, going to five sets with ever-improving Lourdes.
The Tigers aren't ranked in the state Class 3A poll but likely will be before the season is done. They've collected some nice wins, including against Pine Island and Caledonia. First-year Tigers head coach Sammy Pedersen stepped into a daunting spot, replacing Hall of Famer John Dzubay. But so far, so good. This is a cohesive bunch he's coaching, and according to Pedersen, they know how to push each other.
The Panthers, whose talent is nicely spread out, have lost just three times this season, to Stewartville, Alden-Conger and Cannon Falls. It was a heartbreaking one Sept. 17 to the Bombers, falling in five sets. Peyton Barnett was outstanding with 37 assists and 26 digs. Kiley Passow had 12 kills and 27 digs. Jade Severson leads the team in kills with 117. Teagan Barnett is second with 105 (also 146 digs). Peyton Barnett is the assists leader with 329.
The Ramblers are an athletic bunch, led by arguably the top girls athlete in southeastern Minnesota, hitter Clarissa Sauer. Savy Repinski provides an excellent setter and Carrie Macal and Katelyn Ubl are two more strong players for the Ramblers who have shown steady progress this season.
Cannon Falls is coming off a great win, a five-setter at Pine Island. Falon Hepola gives the Bombers one of the top setters around. The junior came through with 24 assists and 20 digs against Pine Island. Senior outside hitter Karsyn Winchell is also dominant. She had 29 kills against Pine Island and is a terrific defender. Injuries have once again set Cannon Falls back a bit, but the Bombers have responded to them.
The Lions are leaning on a strong group of upperclassmen who have long been members of this team. Spring Grove's offense is led by hitter Jordis Neeley who is averaging 10 kills per match. The Lions have just one loss this season, to No. 1-ranked Mabel-Canton.
The Falcons have one win that stands out, beating Winona Cotter 3-1. It was a balanced effort, with Kyla Hellickson wth 33 digs; Lauren Dahly with 7 kills, 20 assists and 8 digs; Katelyn Scheevel with 12 kills and 3 blocks and Annika Mensink with 10 kills. Fillmore Central has plenty of weapons.
The Cardinals have been a persistent bunch, with a collective drive, according to coach Tanya LeJeune. Junior setter Lavin LeJeune and senior outside hitter Rylee Kennedy have had three matches this season with double-double stats. LeJeune has 1,000 career set assists and 500 digs. Freshman outside hitter Teagan Hartman has also been a dynamic presence.
Dover-Eyota (9-3)
The Eagles have gone back to the basics in practices, in hopes that it will pay off in matches. It has. D-E has gone from a 6-16 record last year to its current 9-3.
