The state championship dream for the Sauk Rapids-Rice volleyball seniors hit a brutal wall on Nov. 11, falling 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) to Princeton in the quarterfinals. This isn’t just any class, though. This group of six seniors leaves behind an 81-28 record over four seasons, making them the winningest class in at least the last 20 years. Talk about going out fighting, even in a tough loss!
A Dynasty Built From Scratch, Then the Crunch
Before these seniors even hit the court, Storm volleyball had seen four straight losing seasons from 2019-22. Then this crew showed up. Emma Sunby, Elliyana Karl, Peyton Welch, Abbey Meinert, Molly Warzecha, and Josie Anderson changed *everything*. They turned that program around, leading them to back-to-back 20-win Section 8AAA championships for the first time in school history, boasting four consecutive winning seasons. That’s a massive flip, a complete culture change! This is also the first time Sauk Rapids has made it to consecutive state tournaments for volleyball, period. Head coach Gail Bialke summed it up: “It’s a very special group. It’s amazing what we’ve done in the last four years at Sauk Rapids with these girls as our leaders… to come back to [state] is just unremarkable.” They’re even making room for a new banner in the high school gym because they literally ran out of space on their current one. That’s how much winning they’ve done.
The Battle on the Court and Off-Court Bonds
The quarterfinal match against Princeton was a gut-punch. The Storm came out hot, grabbing an 8-4 lead in the first set, looking like they were ready to roll. But then, it just disappeared. Princeton’s strong hitting and inept ability to extend rallies became too much for the Storm, and they fell quickly behind in the second set as the Tigers scored at will. The third set was a better fight, with Sauk Rapids taking control early as their backs were against the wall. But again, Princeton’s defense proved too much, securing the 3-0 sweep. It stings, no doubt. But for this team, it’s more than just wins and losses. Senior libero Abbey Meinert said, “These are genuinely my best friends. I’ve known them since seventh grade when volleyball started, and it’s cool to see each other grow. These two [Josie and Emma] are just such wonderful women. It’s a memory that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I’m just so grateful to be here playing next to my best friends.” That kind of bond? That’s what keeps you fighting.
Even after the crushing quarterfinal loss, this isn’t the end. Sauk Rapids still has volleyball to play, with a chance to secure another top five finish in the consolation championship. They will hit the court at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. You know what they’re playing for? Themselves. This winningest class in two decades is going to leave it all on the court, fighting for each other until the very end. You can bet on that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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