LRSC head volleyball coach Steve Waddell. (Photo by Noah Clooten)
DEVILS LAKE — Lake Region State College volleyball coach Steve Waddell felt his team didn’t play to its potential on Tuesday.
Despite pulling out a 3-2 win over Mayville State JV, he expected more in the Royals’ home opener on Wednesday.
And that’s exactly what he got in a 3-0 sweep of Trinity Bible.
“We didn’t play very well last night. We were sick, and we just were kind of struggling last night,” Waddell said. “So I really liked how we turned it around tonight. We were moving the ball around. Our pin hitters, our outsides and right sides just did a great job. Our defense was stellar tonight. And I think our serving just was the difference maker, for sure.”
The Royals won their sets 25-15, 25-17 and 25-13.
After winning four of its first five matches on the road, LRSC got off to an undefeated start at home. It’s now 5-1 to begin the year.
The Royals went just 2-10 in conference play last season. Waddell has higher hopes for this group — and he believes they have the talent to reach those heights.
“We’re very balanced,” Waddell said. “We’ve got hitters that can hit from all over the court. We’ve got really strong hitters everywhere. We don’t have a weakness this year. There’s not a rotation where I worry. We’re just strong. And this team is just, they’re in it; they’ve bought into the program. They’re wonderful human beings. I love spending time with them.”
The Royals dove straight into the fire last week with the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Ill. The tournament brought 81 NJCAA teams from around the country together, including 17 of the top 25.
LRSC won three of its four matches. The lone loss was a 3-2 defeat by North Iowa Area Community College. The Royals’ three wins were all sweeps.
“We were a little intimidated coming in, but I felt like we just played our game and we played really well,” Waddell said. “It was a good test for us early. And I think we have some room to grow, but I think we’re right there with some of the top teams around.”
A question mark heading into the season was how LRSC would replace some of its top offensive players, like Breanna Vosberg and Sienna Gudnason.
A huge boost in that department has been Madison Samuelson. Waddell started recruiting the freshman from Sarles, N.D., back when she was a ninth-grader.
Samuelson led the Royals with 39 kills in the Opening Weekend Tournament. She kept rolling with eight kills unofficially in the home opener. She consistently found angles from the outside and took control over points.
“I’m just super glad to have her,” Waddell said. “She does everything well: her defense, her passing, her serving. She’s dynamic on offense. She’s just a super kid, and she works really, really hard, and she wants to get better every day. And I’m really impressed with a young kid like that stepping in and being a really strong leader.”
On the defensive side, LRSC has been anchored by local talent Torri Fee. She’s been the Royals’ primary libero, and had 41 digs in the Opening Weekend Tournament.
Devils Lake fans were already familiar with Fee’s game. But now Royals fans are getting to see it.
“She’s invaluable. She’s so cool and calm, and she’s a competitor,” Waddell said. “We’re starting to teach her a little bit more of our game, and just kind of the movement and things. And she’s grasping onto it in a really, really nice way. She’s just a stud back there, and we trust her. I trust that when the ball is going to her, that she’s gonna make a play.”
Fee signed with the LRSC volleyball team back in November. She later added basketball.
For Sydney Schwabe, it’s the other way around. The Thompson, N.D., native was the leading scorer on the LRSC women’s basketball team last year. She only played one sport as a freshman. But she had been a standout in high school volleyball, too.
Schwabe was the Royals’ line judge for many of the games last fall.
“I think she just missed playing volleyball,” Waddell said. “She’s such a good basketball player, but she’s really good at volleyball, too. She’s athletic. She’s a competitor. She wants to win. She comes from a super good program. So I think having her adds that element of leadership and competitive nature, and just the ability to finish a game.”
Schwabe, a setter, led the team in digs in the Opening Weekend Tournament.
Perhaps the biggest surprise addition, though, was the late but welcome arrival of 6-foot-3 middle blocker Anna Bessonova. She moved to Cando, N.D., from Ukraine about two years ago. Last fall, she had a solid junior season for the North Star Bearcats.
Because of the way her credits transferred over from Ukraine to North Dakota, she ended up being eligible to go to LRSC despite being listed as an 11th-grader last year. In late July, she called Waddell and asked if she could join the team.
“And I was super excited about it because she’s 6-3,” Waddell said.
Bessonova’s playing time has been relatively limited. But it’s a big step for someone who initially expected to be a senior for the Bearcats this fall. She joins former North Star teammate Jorie Ahlberg, daughter of North Star volleyball coach Kirstin Ahlberg.
“It was a surprise for all of us, but it’s something really good for her, something really positive for her to be a part of,” Waddell said. “She’s having a blast, and we love having her.”
With her height and strength, Bessonova brings a ton of potential.
“She’s a really good blocker, and she’s starting to figure it out,” Waddell said. “I think with a little bit of work and a little bit of time and some experience, she’s gonna be a very good volleyball player.”
The Royals have also been fueled by returning sophomore Lexie Shearer, a top player from last year who’s continued to be reliable. She’s second on the team in kills behind Samuelson. Right behind her is Anne Stroklund, another valuable freshman addition.
This team just appears to be in sync with one another in the early going.
LRSC now heads on another road trip, this time to Sioux City, Iowa. It’s set to compete in the Siouxland Invitational, a tournament where it went 0-4 last season.
“We played in that tournament last year and didn’t do very well,” Waddell said. “But I think this year, we’re a different team. We have a lot of matches under our belt right now, and this team has really high goals. And I think our ceiling is super high. So I’m excited for us to go down there and play some tough teams and just see where we’re at.”
