Tuesday
"C" Denfeld at Aitkin
"JV" Denfeld at Aitkin
"V" Denfeld at Aitkin
The Gobblers celebrate a point in the loss to Cloquet.
Natalie Stueven is ready for a kill against the Lumberjacks.
Madyson Burgstaler fires off a serve against the Lumberjacks.
The Gobbler seniors pose after the season opening match with Cloquet.
The Aitkin Gobbler volleyball team opened the season Thursday and lost a very hard-fought match 3-1 to Cloquet at the Aitkin High School gym. The two teams split the first two sets, but the Lumberjacks caught fire in the final two sets to pick up the win.
The first set was back and forth with Cloquet getting out front 7-3. Haley Shereck made it 7-4 with an ace and later Kate Palm and Natalie Stueven each had a kill to make it 8-6. Abbey Presto had a pair of aces to make it 10-9 later in the set and the two teams battled the rest of the way with the 'Jacks winning 25-17. The second set was a marathon that included 16 ties. It was tight the whole set and after a Gobbler timeout it was 21-21. It was even at 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 before Stueven closed out the set with an ace and a 30-28 win.
The third set was pretty much all Cloquet. Aitkin closed to within one at 8-7 but the 'Jacks kept it at eight to ten for the remainder of set three and won it 25-12. Aitkin couldn't get restarted in set four but tied things at 6-6 on an ace by Presto. The rest of the set belonged to Cloquet as they got out to leads of 14-8 and 20-12 before running the last five points to win 25-16 and win the match.
Abbey Presto led in digs with 23 while Haley Shereck had 8 kills, Madyson Burgstaler had 6 and Kate Palm and Taya Hawkins each had four. Shereck and Burgstaler each had 3 blocks and Presto and Hawkins each had 3 aces.
Coach Wade Zubke was happy with his teams play, "Our girls played very hard, that second set was crazy but we hung in there and made some great saves to keep ourselves alive and just made big plays to win the set. They had a little run to start the third set and we couldn't get back into it but overall I'm very happy with how we played."
Cloquet 25 28 25 25
Aitkin 17 30 12 16
The Gobbler JV lost in three, 25-20, 24-26 and 15-8 and the C-Squad lost in three sets, 25-22, 25-18, 25-8.
What is your role on the team this season?
"Work with my teammates and keep everything upbeat."
How about your goals?
"I want to stay positive throughout the season and always have a good attitude."
What is your role for the Gobblers this year?
"I try to keep everything positive and keep everybody up during the match."
How about your goals?
"Have fun, play hard, keep a good attitude not matter what is happening on the court."
What is your role for the Gobblers?
"I try to be a positive influence on the team and keep everybody up."
Your goals for the year?
"Have fun and stay Positive."
As a manager what is your role on the team this season?
"I keep a lot of stats and get them to Coach and he applies them to the match, hitters, defense, you name it. I have played volleyball since I was 12-13 years old but broke my finger and got into the managers role. During practice I watch players and keep Coach on task."
Coach Zubke has some nice goals for the season.
"I would like to improve my connection with the players. Getting to know my players and be able to work with them to give them a better chance to win. I think it will be a little easier this season because I worked with many of the varsity players over the summer."
What is your role on this years team?
"As a Captain I must provide a positive attitude, be loud, see the court and help those on the court. I want my teammates to come up and talk to me when they have problems and be an overall leader."
What are your goals for the season?
"To have fun and be better than last year. I want to have a positive impact on the volleyball team. I want to be positive, have a good attitude and keep the team up when times are tough."
What is your role this season?
"Being a Captain I must be a leader, helping everyone and being someone people can look up to."
How about your goals?
To be a good leader and teammate. To help my team make it to State. Go big or go home. We have a lot of talent, we need to put it all together."
What do you see as your role this season?
"To be a leader for the younger girls, help them and to show them how fun it is to be on this team. Someone they can look up to."
What about your goals for this year?
"To improve throughout the season, keep myself up, keep heads up when times are hard. We need to play as a family and play as a team."
What is your role on this volleyball team?
"I need to support the girls as much as I can. I hope to make volleyball a good experience for them. Teach them to learn from mistakes and push ourselves to be the best we can be."
What are your goals?
"Have a good attitude, be positive and keep everybody up all the time. Have a fun season."
What is your role for this years volleyball team?
"As a setter I keep the team together and in position."
What are your goals for the season?
"To have a better mindset, good attitude and to stay positive. Our team needs to work together more and I hope to help the whole team have a positive attitude even when things don't go well."
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What is your role on this years volleyball team?
"Ideally I feel like my role will be to be an uplifting teammate for the girls on my team and to be someone the younger girls can look up to and feel comfortable enough to ask questions."
How about your goals?
I want to build sportsmanship within our team and be a member willing to contribute to a strong team community. My goals are to play as of right now. I want to be a good hitter but I have some back problems. I had an appointment Thursday and got cleared for all activities so I'm excited about that."
The 2025 Aitkin Gobbler volleyball team is gearing up for the season by playing in the CLC summer league. Left to right are Abbey Presto, Allie Ostrowski, Sienna Melz, Zoey Van Camp, Maddy Burgstaler, Haley Shereck, Allie Goeritz and Taya Hawkins.
Here comes the 2025 Aitkin Gobbler varsity volleyball schedule. (Last year 3-21)
Thursday, August 21
Cloquet at Aitkin
Tuesday, August 26
Duluth Denfeld at Aitkin
Thursday, Sept. 4
Aitkin at C-I
Tuesday, Sept. 9
East Central at Aitkin
Thursday, Sept. 11
Aitkin at Rush City
Saturday, Sept. 13
Aitkin at C-I Tourney
Monday, Sept. 15
Pillager at Aitkin
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Aitkin at Ogilvie
Thursday, Sept. 25
Pine City at Aitkin
Monday, Sept. 29
Duluth Marshall at Aitkin
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Aitkin at Braham
Thursday, Oct. 2
Hinckley-Finlayson at Aitkin
Saturday, Oct. 4
Aitkin at Mora Tourney
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Aitkin at Mille Lacs
Thursday, Oct. 9
Aitkin at Hibbing
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Mora at Aitkin
Thursday, Oct. 16
Aitkin at Upsala Tourney
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