Seeded fifth in the league, the Clipper fourth-grade girls spring league volleyball team was the underdog but still won the end-of-the-season tournament, which was held on the Cleveland courts on Saturday.
It was the first year playing for most of the girls. They started the day upsetting the fourth-ranked team before taking down the second seed and then the top seed to win the playoff. All their competition was from the Mankato Area Volleyball Association.
The team includes, from L-R, front row: Alice Wilker, Kenzie Kortuem, Natalie Flowers, Vivian Patterson and Anistyn Dauk. Back row: Harley Samuelson, Gretchen Heldberg, Addison Sandhurst, Hadley Thompson, Emily Baker and Lily McMillen. Missing from the photo is player Kylie Wobbrock.
Coaching the fourth graders were April Thompson, Sally Kortuem and Kaija McMillen.
(Photo courtesy of Nancy Heldberg)