Oct. 9—MOUNT VERNON, S.D. — For Madalynn Lorang, reaching 1,000 career digs was less about the number and more about the teammates who helped her get there.
Lorang reached the milestone on Oct. 1, in Mount Vernon/Plankinton volleyball’s big win over Winner, who currently hold a 15-5 record. The senior outside hitter added 23 kills to lead the Titans offensively while anchoring their defense from the back row, giving her another memorable performance in a season that has seen her emerge as the team’s unquestioned senior leader.
“I feel like having the teammates that I’ve had to help me reach that mark is the most important thing for me,” Lorang said. “It’s just more fun to win with them, and I don’t even think about the accomplishment really because it just comes with the win.”
The milestone is fitting for a player who has been asked to contribute nearly everywhere on the court, as her secondary position is listed at setter.
Lorang has been a steady presence defensively, monitoring the back row and providing the Titans with the digs and assists needed to keep rallies alive. But when rotations take her to the front row, she becomes one of MVP’s top offensive players, attacking with the same confidence that has made her a key part of the team’s defense.
“I am not able to get the hits without my teammates and the great passers we have in the back row along with our setters to set me up,” Lorang said. “Just them believing in me to get the kills and to capitalize on their passes is what helps me out, especially to get myself in a rhythm on offense.”
That all-around production has become especially important for a young Titans roster. Lorang is the lone senior on the team, with junior middle hitter Addisyn Everson the only other upperclassman. That has placed Lorang in a unique leadership position she has embraced throughout the season.
“I honestly kind of like it,” Lorang said. “It’s different this year because I’ve always been the younger girl, but I definitely love having all the younger girls look up to me and just being there to help them get better. It’s been awesome.”
Mount Vernon/Plankinton coach Darcy Deinert has seen that leadership grow along with Lorang’s production.
“I have been so proud of Madalynn this year,” Deinert said. “She’s really stepped into the leadership role and decided to embrace the fact that she’s the only senior, and that’s difficult. But she puts in the extra time, both on the court and off the court, and has been a blessing to this group. She’s always composed and under control.”
The Titans’ turnaround has mirrored Lorang’s impact. After opening the season 1-5, Mount Vernon/Plankinton has won 13 of its last 15 matches to climb to 14-7 after Thursday’s sweep over Bon Homme. Young players have continued to seemingly step up in all phases of the game helping transform the team into a much more confident group than the one that began the season.
With four regular-season matches remaining, the Titans will face Kimball/White Lake next on Tuesday, Oct. 13, a 17-5 West Central team on Oct. 15 and Gregory on Oct. 20 before the Southeast South Dakota Conference tournament on Oct. 24. Mount Vernon/Plankinton will then close the regular season against Sanborn Central/Woonsocket on Oct. 27.
For Lorang, the next milestone is simply seeing how far this group can go in her final high school volleyball season.
“I think we have a lot of potential, and if we just leave it all out on the court we’ll be able to go pretty far,” Lorang said.
* Hanson picked up a sweep over Ethan on Thursday night in Ethan. Ava Doyle paced the Beavers in kills with 13, plus 14 digs, two service aces and a block. Avery Squires tallied 22 set assists, and Jozlynn Tegethoff added a match-high 21 digs. For the Rustlers, Janaya Wright paced their attack with 12 kills and three service aces, while Juliette Beyer had 11 kills and Anna Mellegaard added 10 kills and two blocks in the loss.
* Avon picked up a big four-set victory over Bridgewater-Emery to improve to 14-6 on the season, handing the Huskies only their third loss of the season on Thursday in Avon. Rilyn Thury led the attack for the Pirates with 21 kills and 16 digs, while Kaydence Metzger added 17 kills, 18 digs and four service aces. Brielle Voigt recorded 41 set assists, and Jordyn Voigt had 20 digs and four aces. For Bridgewater-Emery, Oakley Weber had 16 set assists, 15 digs and 10 kills, while Lily Hilton posted 17 assists and 12 digs in the loss.
* Sanborn Central/Woonsocket earned a road sweep over Tripp-Delmont/Armour to improve to 12-8 on Thursday. Addison Bartholow paced the Blackhawks with 16 kills, while Kaidence Fridley tallied 29 set assists, 10 digs and two service aces. Hudson Fouberg had 16 digs and two aces, and Carley Edwards had eight kills. For TDA, Mia Reiner had 13 kills and 10 digs, Ryenn Loneman had 12 digs and nine kills, and Allison Wunder posted 24 set assists in the loss. On Tuesday, TDA defeated Viborg-Huley in four sets behind Reiner’s 27 kills and 18 digs, and Loneman’s 24 set assists, 17 digs and three aces.
* Platte-Geddes downed Gregory in straight sets on Thursday in Platte to move to 13-8 on the season. Kori VanDerWerff led the way for the Black Panthers with 21 digs, 10 kills and three blocks, while Kolbi Hoffman tallied 20 set assists and 10 digs and Taylor Schrank added 18 digs. P-G also picked up a win on Tuesday over Parkston, as VanDerWerff paced the team with 22 kills, 10 digs and two aces, and Hoffman added 33 assists and 10 digs.
* McCook Central/Montrose swept Howard on Tuesday in Salem. The Fighting Cougars were led by Jaida Skyberg’s eight kills, Khloie Klinkhammer’s 26 set assists and five service aces and Ella DeKnikker’s 10 digs.
* After a road sweep against Scotland on Tuesday, Wagner improved to 17-5 on the season. Hannah Holzbauer had 11 kills and eight digs to lead the Red Raiders. Braxton Nedved recorded 30 set assists and three service aces, while Hayden Knudsen posted nine digs and Mateya Bruguier had eight kills.
* Lyman swept Cheyenne-Eagle Butte in Presho on Thursday. Kenzie Wagner and Brooke Montgomery paced the Raiders in kills with nine apiece, while Ella Ehlers tallied 20 set assists. Josie Jessop had a game-high six service aces, and Jordyn Scott added three aces.
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