Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – One year after their season was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-10 pandemic, the Detroit Lakes Volleyball team is ready for a full season.
“It feels so good to be back in the gym,” said sophomore Ava Jones. “It’s nice to be back here with the girls and to be getting ready for the season.”
The high school volleyball season didn’t start until October 8th last season after the season was delayed. Originally, the MSHSL decided that the football and volleyball seasons would be pushed to March and would be squeezed in between a shortened winter sports season and shortened spring sports season. But, after COVID-19 numbers declined, the League gave the go-ahead for an 11-week season beginning on September 28th. The season was eventually cut short after Governor Tim Walz announced four weeks of intense COVID shutdowns in late November, which included pausing youth sports and ended the volleyball season.
“The normalcy is really nice to get back into,” says Lakers head coach Lynnsey Machakaire. “But at the same time, we’re prepared to make that quick change and how we can deal with that situation positively. It’s been great to see the girls come together and support each other through these changes.”
The Lakers were 8-2 in the shortened 2020 season. But with senior Lauren Kaiser out for the season with an injury, the Lakers are only returning three players varsity players from last year’s team: junior Jalen Gunderson, and sophomores Ava Jones and Grace Gunderson.
“We graduated a lot of good players last year, a couple of them are playing college ball this fall,” says Machakaire. “Players like Gabby Frederickson, Jordyn Johnson, Faith Keller, Autumn Kulik, and Laken Weaver. Those girls were great for our program, but we have worked hard to develop our pipeline. I’m excited for these younger girls to get their chance to shine and to show people what they’ve got.”
“We have two seniors this year: Lauren Kaiser and Luisa Walz. Lauren is going to miss the season due to an injury so we won’t see her at all this year, but she is still going to be a big part of the team in a leadership role. Lauren, from a sideline role, is in a really hard position to be in when you’ve been waiting so long for this, but she has thrived. She has really helped, especially these younger kids. I love how open she is. She gives support, she answers questions. We call her ‘Mama Lauren’.”
“Luisa has come up through our program. She’s got great athletic ability. She started in ninth grade on the C Squad and worked her way up. And now she’s going to be the lone senior on the court for us. I love how she stuck with it, even when she didn’t make varsity as a junior last year. I think that shows tremendous leadership.”
When the Lakers open the season on Tuesday, August 31st, Machakaire will be relying on her young core of players to carry the Lakers this season.
“Ava Jones is still young, but her leadership skills are amazing. She has really stepped up and will be our offensive coordinator on the court; calling the plays and getting the girls to gel. Ava is out right now, but we’re hoping to get her back for the DGF game. Grace Gunderson and Jalynn Gunderson are going to be two absolute powerhouses on the outside. They have really stepped into that role.”
With all the changes to the Laker volleyball lineup this season, there has been one constant: the Ralph Anderson Gymnasium. Renovated in 1997 and then named in honor of the legendary Detroit Lakes newspaper reporter, the gym will play host to Laker volleyball varsity matches for the last time this fall with the new addition and new gymnasium being completed soon.
“We are going to honor The Ralph this season,” Machakaire said. “We have had so many great moments in this gym. Our goal is to send it out with some of the best volleyball ever played in here.”
2021-22 Detroit Lakes Volleyball Schedule:
Tuesday, August 31 – @ DGF
Thursday, September 2 – @ Bemidji
Tuesday, September 7 – vs Perham
Thursday, September 9 – @ Staples-Motley
Tuesday, September 14 – vs Hawley
Thursday, September 16 – vs Park Rapids
Saturday, September 18 – Tournament @ Hawley
Monday, September 20 – vs Moorhead
Tuesday, September 21 – vs Wadena-Deer Creek
Thursday, September 23 – @ Crosby-Ironton
Tuesday, September 28 – @ East Grand Forks
Thursday, September 30 – @ Aitkin
Tuesday, October 5 – @ Thief River Falls
Thursday, October 7 – vs Pequot Lakes
Saturday, October 9 – Tournament @ Sauk Rapids-Rice
Tuesday, October 12 – vs Frazee
Thursday, October 21 – Tournament @ Fergus Falls
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