Hermantown volleyball has been the definition of streaky this fall.
One night, they’re blitzing Hibbing in straight sets like the good old Hawks of yore. The next, they lose to Grand Rapids without so much as a whimper.
“There were really great moments in the game at Rapids but we still have some work to do,” said Hawks coach Jessica Williams.
That’s been the challenging part of this group. They played four matches in a single September Saturday — knocked off Denfeld, then ran out of gas against Brainerd and White Bear Lake.
It isn’t because the cupboard is bare. The Hawks actually have a nice blend of elite, experienced players: seniors Ashlee Pruse and Evie Nelson, steady as Duluth coffee on a cold morning; a pack of juniors like Isabella Winans, Kadyn Kimpling, Reese Lukovsky, Riley Woinarowicz, Kenzie Zagelmeyer and Sophie Schulz, who are more than capable of winning matches when the light switch is flipped on.
And four sophomores — Kylee Stokke, Anna Bergerson, Lilah Conley and Audra Schott — who play with the kind of fearless energy that makes you wonder what this roster could be next two years.
The potential is there. A 3-0 sweep of Hibbing earlier in September was textbook Hawks volleyball: serve tough, defend even tougher, and let the offense breathe. Same deal against Superior and Rock Ridge. But then you get the Sebeka loss, the Proctor stumbles, and the “what just happened” match against Grand Rapids.
Hermantown heads to Saint Michael-Albertville for an invitational this weekend.
For Williams, the final stretch ahead is all about polish.
“We have this week of only practice where we can spend a good amount of time fine-tuning a few things to get ready for our last game and home game vs. Cloquet,” she said. “It will be a battle as it always is, and then we start playoffs after that.”
That Cloquet match doubles as a community showcase.
“Oct. 14 is also our dig pink night, teacher appreciation night and youth night,” Williams said. “It’s going to be special.”
After that, the calendar turns to win-or-go-home: quarterfinals Oct. 22, semis Oct. 27, and the section championship Oct. 30.
If history tells us anything, the Hawks will make it interesting. They’re just as likely to storm through sections as they are to bow out early with heads scratching. That’s the joy — or frustration — of following Hermantown volleyball.
So if you’re heading to that Cloquet match, buy some popcorn. You might see the Hawks team that smothers opponents in three sets. Or you might see the one that forgets how to pass for half a match. Either way, it’ll be Hermantown, true to form: unpredictable, streaky, and still capable of flipping the switch when it matters most.