Last season, the MACA volleyball team finished with 758 kills as a team. Of those 758 kills, 749 of them belonged to players who are still on the roster in 2025. Behind the direction of seven-year head coach Leah Schroeder and some returning offensive firepower, the Tigers aim to climb the West Central Conference standings this season.
The Tigers are coming off a 2024 season where they finished 7-16-1 overall and were 4-10 in the West Central Conference to place sixth in the conference. MACA earned the fourth seed in Section 3AA and a home game in the first round, but they lost 3-2 to the fifth seeded Litchfield Dragons to end their season.
MACA returns the majority of the team from 2024, but lost two key contributors to the team last season. Lauren Hottovy led the team in digs and was second in serving aces and Makenzie Konz, who was third on the team in digs. Hottovy played libero and Makenzie Konz was a defensive specialist, so there are openings in the back row for players to step up in 2025.
In total, 10 MACA players return to the team with varsity experience under their belts, including: seniors Haley Kill, Ryla Koehler, Addison CIhak, Morgan Harstad and Nora Boyle; and juniors Mylie Fehr, Hazel Hall, Heika Hall, Brenna Jergenson and Valeria Diaz. Not all the returning players are playing their exact same position from the 2024 season “This year we have several girls in new or slightly different positions. It has been fun to watch them embrace their new roles and come together as a team,” head coach Leah Schroeder said.
The Tigers returned nearly all of their attacking, with their top 10 leaders in kills all returning to the team in 2025. Kill and Cihak led the team with 194 and 181 kills in 2024, respectively. Kill also led the team with 35 ace serves and was second with 239 digs.
Koehler returns, but will start as the libero and led the team with 292 assists last year and was third on the team in digs with 142. Heika Hall will step into the starting setter role and was second with 246 assists in 2024.
Morgan Harstad returns as the starting middle blocker and led the team last season with 53 total blocks.
To help add more depth in the back row, junior defensive specialist Fryda Pico Jon will see her first varsity action in the 2025 season.
Sauk Centre is the defending West Central Conference champions, but West Central Area and Minnewaska Area also had double-digit conference wins in 2024 and all three should have competitive teams again this season. The goal for the Tigers will be to be competitive with each and every team they step on the court with. “We hope to be a competitive force in the conference,” coach Schroeder said.
MACA will remain in Section 3AA again this season. Two of the tougher teams in the section this season will be the Litchfield Dragons and the New London-Spicer Wildcats. The Tigers were bounced early in the first round last season and aim to improve to make a run in the 2025 section playoffs.
The team started practice Aug. 11 and were able to get eight days of official practice under their belt, before they were scheduled to play their first game against BOLD at home in Morris on Thursday, Aug. 21.
