TMB FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: VOLLEYBALL
Second-year TMB volleyball coach Heather Kamrud-Rice is working with a strong core of experienced players returning for the 2026 season.
Senior Piper Freeburg, and juniors Allie Adams, Melaina Ankrum and Braelynn Kirk were starters on varsity last year, so they will bring the most experience to this year’s team. Others looking to have an impact on the court this fall are Lauren Knakmuhs (junior), Avery Torgeson (senior), Gretchen Lanoue (sophomore) and Ary Rolling (junior).
Players who graduated last year include Teagan Viessman, Allison Edwards, Kyli Carter, Brianna Duscher, Faith Abrahamson and Brooklyn Elsen.
The Panthers finished 13-16 overall last year and were 6-5 in the Camden Conference.
“It’s so hard to say who our ‘key’ players are,” Kamrud-Rice said. “In volleyball, someone might only play three rotations out of six and still be a key player. And yet we have players that will play six out of six rotations, and they are key players also.”
TMB started out 2-6 last season before winning six out of its next eight matches, including going 4-1 at the Sibley East Tournament. The Panthers’ season ended with a sweep at the hands of Minneota, which finished last year as Class A runners-up to Mayer Lutheran, a private school in the Twin Cities.
Kamrud-Rice said trying to determine how her Panthers will fare in the section and conference this year is tough. However, she is fully aware of the strength of both the Camden and Section 3A.
“If you look back at the Class A state champions for the past 10 years, there is only one year that it wasn’t either Mayer Lutheran or the Section 3A champs, which have been Minneota, Canby, and RTR,” she said. “We have some ambitious goals this year, but this is a tough section. We’re just hoping all of this really great competition is just going to make us stronger.” Kamrud-Rice said once again, Minneota, Canby and RTR will likely be top contenders in the section. “All of those teams are going to be tough, but we also need to include MACCRAY in that conversation,” she said. “Like many teams in Section 3A, they tend to be better than most teams in our class, but not quite enough to make it out of our section.”
The Panthers open their 2025 campaign tonight (Thursday) at home against Red Rock Central. TMB is at Windom on Aug. 26 and at RTR on Sept. 2 before taking part in the always-tough Southwest Challenge in Marshall on Sept. 5-6.
TMB VOLLEYBALL ROSTER Seniors: Emma Carter, Piper Freeburg, Cheyenne Hoffman, Aliyah Loftness, Avery Torgeson Juniors: Allie Adams, Melaina Ankrum, Kaylie Danielson, Braelynn Kirk, Lauren Knakmuhs, Taylor Munson, Aryiana Rolling, Brooke Swenhaugen Sophomores: Calie Johns, Elsie Knott, Gretchen Lanoue, Nora Rice, Avaya Sagmoe, Ava Swenhaugen, Lauren Torkelson Freshmen: Avery Anderson, Clara Buyck, Sophia Del Angel, Alli Dolan, Mesa Edwards, Aleya Johnson, Izabella Martinez, Adyson Morgan, Jayda Snyder Eighth grade: Ellah Barker, Kirabella Sanders, Allisyn Stoks, Trinidi Knudson Seventh grade: Kynlie Bornitz, Evelyn Buyck, Anika Connor, Alexis Dahmes, Hayden Danielson, Gabriella Facio, Jayleeana Garza, Brynn Grunden, Skylar Johnson, Kerrigan Knapper, Shelby Knott, Caroline Lanoue, Ava Lightfoot, Peyton Luckhardt, Julia Moua, Audrey Nelson, Braya Schreier, Chelsea Torkelson
