Norse Complete Season
Virginia, MN – The 2022 MNC-Mesabi Range Norse concluded their season at the NJCAA Region 13B tournament Friday night falling to St. Cloud TCC in four hotly contested sets 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-27, 23-25). The Norse played extremely well but were just unable to make the key plays at the end of sets 3 & 4 to come up with the victory.
Although the season ended in a tough loss, the Norse had a very historic season accomplishing many firsts and breaking many long droughts. The Norse broke a 20-year drought in claiming their first MCAC Northern Division Title since 2002; they also knocked off perennial MCAC Northern Division power Central Lakes for the first time since 2011. In addition to breaking those streaks, the Norse by way of winning the MCAC North were able to host the NJCAA Region 13B tournament for the first time in program history. In addition to that, the Norse placed 5 players on the MCAC All Division Team for the first time in program history as Kaelynn Kudis, and Lauren Lautigar earned MCAC All Northern Division 1st Team honors. While Johanna Westby, Kylee Huusko and Abbigail Shuster earned MCAC All Northern Division, 2nd Team honors. Kaelynn Kudis and Lauren Lautigar also earned All MCAC honors, while Kaelynn also was named to the NJCAA All Region 13 Team.
Kaelynn Kudis also garnered MCAC Northern Division Player of the Year, while Norse Head Coach Sara Matuszak was named MCAC Northern Division Coach of the Year.
The Norse concluded the 2022 season with a 17-10 overall record (13-3 MCAC North). The Norse look to build upon this successful season and grow as an MCAC North power.