The Oriole varsity spikers closed their season Thursday, Oct. 30 at Barron, falling to the Bears in three sets.
Taking second in conference behind McDonell before winning the regional championship against Stratford, the team saw an overall great season, with junior Kelly Lew leading the team with an average of 3.7 kills per game, followed by freshman Amanda Lew with 3.2 and senior Macie LaGrander with 2.3. LaGrander led the team for hitting percentage, averaging 0.206, followed by senior Bailey Sikora with 0.194 and Kelly Lew with 0.187. Sophomore Layla Klisiewicz led the team with total blocks, racking 68, followed by LaGrander with 62 and Amanda Lew with 37. Amanda Lew led the team in digs per set with 3.4, followed by Kelly Lew with 3.0 and Sikora with 2.4. Amanda Lew led the team with 68 serving aces and tied Sikora for aces per set with 0.6. Sikora made 67 serving aces, followed by Kelly Lew with 59, Kelly Lew took third in aces per set with 0.5. Kelly Lew led the team in overall kills with 423, while Amanda Lew led the team in receptions with 384. Amanda Lew topped the team on digs with 396 total, while Bailey Sikora made 1,094 assists.
Orioles Volleyball Head Coach Karley Wiensch shared results from playoff competition at Barron.
“The Barron game was not our best game as a team,” Wiensch said. “Statistically we did not perform well, but we also did not get blown out of the gym with scores. 23-25, 17-25, 21-25. We were still able to battle with them throughout the sets. As a coach, I can go through all of the ‘what ifs’ but doing that will not take back the heartbreaking loss to Barron.
“It was a very loud environment, there were a lot of people there supporting both teams. It helped Barron that they hosted, due to putting in for hosting the sectional semifinals last spring. That game was probably the most watched game of the year, two 1 seeded teams were playing each other to move on and it wasn’t even the game to head to state!
“We cannot hang our heads on the ‘what ifs’!
“Stanley-Boyd had an amazing year going 41-5, with taking 1st or 2nd at every tournament we went to (7 tournaments), and with being 6-1 in conference behind McDonell who was ranked 1st in Division 4 all year. Like I said, ‘Stanley-Boyd Volleyball has really made a name for themselves.’ We accomplished almost all of our goals this year, we just came up short in reaching our ultimate goal which was making it to state and winning!”
As for seniors, three will be graduating this year.
“The team will be losing some great senior leaders,” Wiensch said. “Bailey Sikora, Macie LaGrander, and Ava Prahl.”
A three year starting setter for the team, Sikora was named Second Team All Conference for the Western Cloverbelt in 2024.
“She accomplished many accolades while running the floor as a setter,” Wiensch said of Sikora, including 1,000 assists raised to 2,000 as of this year. Sikora ends her Oriole volleyball career with 2,183 assists, 695 digs, 186 aces, and 168 kills.
“Macie LaGrander is also a three year varsity player,” Wiensch said for the next senior. “She was a team captain this year.” LaGrander received Honorable Mention All-Conference Western Cloverbelt for 2024 and made Second Team All-Conference in the Western Cloverbelt this year. LaGrander’s career stats include 644 kills, 277 digs, and 39 aces.
Closing out the list of graduating seniors is Ava Prahl, also a three year varsity player and team captain this year.
“She moved from a hitting position to more of a serving/defensive specialist role for the team this year,” Wiensch said of Prahl. Career stats for Prahl include 298 kills, 121 aces, 775 digs, and 41 assists.
“We will be graduating some great Senior leaders, but look forward to what is to come for the future of the Stanley-Boyd Volleyball Program!” Wiensch said.