The Lake Region Conference has long been the state’s premier Class B volleyball conference in South Dakota and it continues to ascend to the next level.

Long known for dominant teams like Northwestern and Warner, the LRC consistently produces quality volleyball players from multiple schools, many of which are now taking their skills on to college.

This past year a dozen former Lake Region Conference members were on varisty rosters at colleges across three states.

“I’m glad that they like it enough to keep playing,” said Northwestern coach Nora Groft who had seven former players competing at the college level, including two daughters at Dakota State. “Playing in college isn’t for everyone. I’m glad that they had a good enough experience that they’re still having a good experience with it.”

Among the former LRC athletes who played at the collegiate level this season were Peyton Ellingson and Lexi Boesl of Warner, and Peyton Melius of Faulkton at Northern State, Evy Peterson of Northwestern at Presentation, Peyton Groft, Madalyn Groft, Riley Grandpre and Sydney Schell of Northwestern at Dakota State, Ady Dwight of Langford Area and Tya Weideman of Northwestern at Dakota Wesleyan, Abby Vetch of Faulkton at Dordt, and Caitlyn Fischbach of Northwestern at Valley City. Paige Mehlberg of Ipswich was on the JV squad at Dakota State.

“A lot of these kids all played club together at Matchbox,” Groft pointed out. “That’s kind of fun for them, too. They’re kind of getting to play with some of their former club teammates, too.”

Some of those friendships go back to elementary school days when the girls were just learning how to play the game of volleyball.

“When we look back, our kids that are playing college now, were little. They were all playing in the Y league together,” she said. “They were are all on the same team.”

Groft said club volleyball not only allows players from various schools to come together and be teammates, it also increases exposure for an opportunity to play at the college level.

“Club definitely gives them more opportunities to be seen, because every club tournament we go to, there’s college coaches everywhere,” Groft said. “The college coaches are never in the high school gyms. It’s during their season. Nobody is coming to watch our kids play. Club has a huge impact on that. Our kids have a lot more opportunities with club.”

Dwight, Wiedeman and Vetch will all be competing in the NAIA National Tournament next week in Sioux City, Iowa.

While Northwestern has had its fair share of college volleyball players through the years, Groft doesn’t get caught up in those numbers, explaining that competing at that level is not necessarily a priority for everyone.

She said that a few years ago every senior on her team had offers to play in college, but not everyone did and that’s fine with her.

Groft noted the same thing could happen again this year, pointing out a couple of standout players from the LRC who could fit into that category.

“I think there are kids this year that are good players as well, that definitely have the opportunity. I don’t know if they will,” Groft said. “I know they’ve been contacted by college coaches and would do very well at the next level, but I don’t know if that’s in their life plan or not.”

Groft has also had several former players that have gone on to coach, but doesn’t get caught up in that number, either.

The big thing is to groom the younger generation so then when the time comes, they are able to step in for those veteran coaches who will someday step down.

“We’re actively trying to get more young women in coaching,” Groft said. “We have our kids coach our youth program.”

In the meantime, Groft enjoys the rare moments when she is able to get away and attend a few college matches, especially those involving her former players. That happened this past fall when Dakota State faced Presentation.

“Evy Peterson is going to go after Riley and try to hit a shot,” Groft said. “It’s comical for me, because they’re playing a whole another game out there. It’s kind of fun for me. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses pretty well, so it’s kind of fun.”

It can also be very rewarding.

Groft got a chance to watch Dakota State compete at the NAIA National Tournament last weekend. She witnessed a couple of plays from Schell that brought a smile to her face.

“To see her use a defensive move or do something attacking-wise in the front row, you just kind of smile, because you’re like, ‘Oh, I know where she learned how to do that.’ That’s kind of cool.”