The Two Harbors Agates volleyball team hosted their Influential Person Night on October 10th, paying tribute to the important individuals in their lives—whether parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or guardians. The event coincided with a matchup against McGregor, but the night’s highlights extended far beyond the scoreboard.
One player, in particular, has been influential on and off the court. Rachel Bopp, a senior in the outside hitter role, achieved a significant milestone by recording her 1,000th career dig. A defensive dig is a critical play in volleyball, where players prevent opposing attacks from scoring, keeping the ball in the team’s possession. To commemorate the achievement, Bopp is now in possession of the volleyball that marked her 1,000th dig.
This achievement is just one of many reasons the Agates have had to celebrate this season. The team recently competed in a tournament at Mesabi East High School, where eight teams vied for the top spot. Despite a loss to Bigfork, the Agates secured victories against Hinckley-Finlayson and the host team, the Mesabi East Giants. They capped off the tournament by defeating Chisholm to claim third place.
“It was so great to play teams we typically wouldn’t throughout our regular season. We always look forward to the annual tournament hosted by Mesabi East—they’ve always been very gracious to us!” said Head Coach Carley Challender.
On October 8th, the team secured another victory, defeating Cook County three straight sets: 25-23, 25-17, and 25-13. Earlier in the season, the Agates had also secured a win against the Cook County Vikings, building momentum as the regular season progressed. On Influential Person Night, the Agates added another victory to their record by defeating McGregor.
“The dedication our girls had to each other as teammates and as a family unit was really amazing to see,” said Challender. “Being able to close our match in 3 and watch our team lead with such a high level of respect, class, and grace—it was one of the sweetest moments of the season for us as coaches. I speak for both Coach Ashley Paulson and myself when I say that we’re so proud to be the head coaches of this program and have such amazing kiddos.”
With a 20-4 season so far, the Agates are set to face Cromwell-Wright on the Cardinal’s court on Monday, October 14th, for their final regular-season game. The team is looking to carry their winning streak and strong camaraderie into the postseason.
