REGIONAL — The Ely girls volleyball squad knew the Minnesota High School Volleyball Showcase tournament wasn’t going to be an easy weekend, and the Timberwolves came away from Burnsville with five losses on Friday and Saturday against some of the toughest competition in Class A.
The Wolves opened pool play on Friday against a pair of state-ranked powers. Sixth-ranked Canby made quick work of Ely 25-17, 25-11, and fourth-ranked Russell-Tyler-Ruthton followed with a 25-20, 25-8 victory.
Saturday brought another ranked opponent, as ninth-ranked Kenyon-Wanamingo held off an Ely push in the second set to post a 25-11, 25-23 win.
In consolation play, the Wolves dropped back-to-back matches against strong but unranked teams that received votes in the statewide poll – Wabasso, 25-20, 25-18, and Kittson County Central, 25-10, 25-22.
The showcase featured many of the state’s elite programs, with matches played best-of-three inside the Midwest Volleyball Warehouse. Ely was making its third straight appearance in the event, finishing 10th a year ago after a 16th-place showing in 2023.
While the Timberwolves couldn’t break into the win column this year, the experience came against some of Minnesota’s best and should prove valuable heading into the heart of the fall schedule.

Duluth Marshall
There’s no place like home, and the Wolves returned to the friendly confines of the Memorial High School gym on Tuesday to get back on the winning track with a four-set win over Duluth Marshall.
Ely topped the Hilltoppers in the first set of the night, 25-15, but the visitors turned the tables in the second to tie the match with a 25-19 win. But Ely would not be denied, coming back to throttle the Hilltoppers in the final two sets, 25-16 and 23-13, for the match victory.
Gretta Lowe spearheaded the offense by putting up 35 set assists. Top beneficiaries were hitters Lydia Shultz and Charlotte Hegman, who had 12 kills each. Shultz also had 13 digs, bested only by Amelia Penke’s 15. Sadie Rechichi led the team in service aces with five.
On tap next for the Wolves is a Monday tilt at home against Northeast Range. On Tuesday, Ely will host North Woods.