Edged by Alden-Conger 16-14 in the final set, the Clipper volleyball team didn’t win the Valley Conference title as they did in 2022.
With WEM and Nova eager to avenge last year’s defeats, the Clippers, suffering their first two losses of the season, didn’t win the Waterville tournament like they did a year ago.
Still, the 2024 Clippers, stronger as the season progressed, accomplished some impressive things, including upsetting Spring Grove—a team that beat Alden-Conger earlier in the day—to win the Goodhue tournament. In their 13th win in a row, they upset Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart to get back to the section championship after falling in the section quarterfinals a year ago.
Before Mayer Lutheran won the section championship, the Clippers scored 21 points in the first game, an especially notable accomplishment since, as they have done several times before, the Crusaders went on to win the state class A title.
The Clippers took time to reflect on their 24-8 season during an awards banquet in the school commons on November 23.
“We faced adversity and figured out a lot about ourselves,” said head coach Dave Nixon. “Our schedule this year was the toughest that Cleveland has had. We picked up Mayer Lutheran, we picked up Sleepy Eye one of the better teams in the south half of the section last year (and swept the match).”
Ava Hahn’s teammates voted her as the Clippers’ Most Valuable Offensive Player. The senior joined the Clippers’ 1000 Kill Club and 1000 Dig Club this year, joining McKenna Robb (CHS 2020) as the only other Clipper to reach both milestones. She totaled 450 kills en route to a career 1299 kills, for the Clippers, second only to Robb. She also scooped 379 digs for a career total of 1083 digs.
Hahn also had the most ace serves for the Clippers this season: 58 (and 211 in her career). Her 32 match kills at Alden is the second most for a Clipper, second only to Robb, who had 40 kills in a match against Mountain Lake.
For her efforts, the Valley Conference coaches also chose Hahn to be a member of the All-Conference First Team and the conference Player of the Year while the Minnesota State High School Volleyball Coaches Association selected her as a member of its All-State team. She was also recognized as the KEYC player of the week in the middle of the season.
“She did front row and back row in a variety of different places,” Nixon said.
The Clippers penciled in senior libero Savannah Meyer as their Most Valuable Defensive Player.
With 469 digs this year toward her 1323 career digs—second only to Emma Sweere (CHS 2023), Meyer joined the Clippers’ 1000 Dig Club. She also served 35 aces towards a career 109 ace serves.
For her effort, Meyer also took home the Miss Hustle Award.
“She kept the ball off the floor,” Nixon said. “I never saw her stand there and watch the ball hit the floor. She kept a lot of rallies alive for us. She was always going after it with a lot of energy and determination.”
Meyer also earned the Clipper Spirit Award.
“If you watch her play, you see her exhibit Clipper pride and spirit,” Nixon said. “The positive attitude every time we saw her play. I don’t think she ever had a bad day. She had a smile on her face and was a great teammate. She does everything you ask her to do.”
Valley coaches also chose Meyer to be a member of the All-Conference First Team. She was also the KNUJ player of the week for the last week of the season.
Senior setter Sophie Perkins and sophomore hitter Melia Sathoff were also named to the All-Valley Conference First Team.
In her first year as the Clippers’ starting setter, Perkins set up 865 points. In her career, she has 883 set assists. This year, she also raised 264 digs, swung for 32 kills, put up 15.5 blocks and served 26 aces. Safely landing 420 of 429 serves, her 97.9 serving percentage was the highest for the Clippers.
“She was someone I could rely on anywhere on the court anytime,” Nixon said. “I could call out any serve for her any time.”
Sathoff totaled 180 kills, 177 digs, 105 blocks and 39 service aces.
The Clippers chose sophomore hitter Taylor McCabe as their Most Improved Player and Rookie of the Year. McCabe was a bright spot off the bench when the Clippers traveled to Mayer Lutheran early in the season, and that earned her a bigger role on the right side. She had 91 kills in her first year on varsity.
“She started out the year not even playing much. She was playing on JV and was a varsity bench player that got a few minutes here and their,” Nixon said. “But then she turned it on after three weeks. She is very athletic, and I would say raw talented player. She produced for us, especially leading up to the playoffs and in the playoffs. She had a great year.”
Besides the award winners, earning letters were seniors Maya Lassiter (16 kills, 18 digs, seven ace serves), Evelyn Keltgen, Addi Holden, Lacey McCabe (105 digs) and Jocelyn Bartell (70 kills, 37 digs, 31.5 blocks); sophomores Maile Meissner, Keira Schipper, Kaitlyn Flowers and Delaney Thompson; and freshman Valentina Rohlfing, Jocelyn Kortuem (88 digs, 15 kills, 11 set assists, five blocks), Anika Sathoff (166 kills, 74 digs, 11 blocks, 35 ace serves) and Luci Blaschko (77 digs).
With a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the season, earning Academic All-Conference honors were Meyer, Hahn, the McCabe sisters, Bartell, Kortuem, Thompson, Lassiter, Perkins, Holden, Keltgen, Schipper and Flowers.
Earning Academic All-State, which is awarded to seniors with a GPA of 3.8 or higher, were Meyer, Lassiter, Keltgen and Lacey McCabe.
As a team, the Clippers received a state academic gold award for the top 10 GPAs over 3.75.
Nixon was named the section coach of the year.
“That was all about you and not me,” Nixon said. “It was because of what you show on the court. It is very much a team award. It shows the respect we get from our section.”
Nixon recognized assistant coach Bree Meyer for 16 years of coaching. Meyer is stepping down to watch daughter Savannah play volleyball at MSU,M and daughter Charlotte Meyer race cross country. She also plans to referee some volleyball games.
“Bree has helped with so many things behind the scenes,” Nixon said. “I can’t even list them all. I am very grateful for her. We are really going to miss her because she is great to have on staff.”
Nixon said he will feel the loss of the eight seniors next fall.
“There is a lot of leadership, a lot to replace. I appreciate each one of they for how they carry themselves. They are great in the classroom and were all awesome people for us, and they will be missed a ton.”
Thompson, who was injured this year, and Taylor McCabe were named next year’s captains.
“Let’s put in the work and keep this going,” Nixon said.
Wrapping up the banquet, Nixon thanked parents, his family and this author. Meyer thanked her husband Bob Meyer.
Above: Award winners Ava Hahn (Offensive MVP, most ace serves), Savannah Meyer (Defensive MVP, Miss Hustle, Clipper), Taylor McCabe (Rookie of the Year, MIP) and Sophie Perkins (highest serving percentage).
