BACK-TO-BACK: Hawley Volleyball Returns to Celebrate with Community
THE NUGGETS ENDED THE SEASON 32-2 AFTER A REVERSE SWEEP TO CAPTURE THE TITLE.
HAWLEY, Minn. (KVRR) – In the Minnesota State High School League Volleyball Class AA State Tournament, Hawley completed a reverse sweep over Chatfield to win their second consecutive Title. After the game, the team returned to Hawley from St. Paul’s Grand Casino Arena. Awaiting them at the high school was a gym full of supporters.
The fans were in full force to welcome home the Hawley Nuggets just before Midnight on Saturday, November 8. All of them inside the Hawley High School gym to celebrate the team that made the entire community proud on and off the court.
“The Hawley community truly is the best,” said senior Annaka Johnson. “Most supportive community you can even imagine. I mean the amount of fans – from people who maybe don’t even know a single one of us on the court – to our own family members. The community comes and they support us every single game, no matter what. I mean, if you were at any home game this year, not even a playoff game, our stands were filled. We were away in Moorhead for both our playoff games – the gym was absolutely packed. They travel so well, and they are so supportive, and they are just as excited as we are, for every single win.”
The Nuggets accomplished something that has never been done before in program history – win back-to-back State Championships. While they won their first last season, this year’s second title cements the team’s status as one of the greatest volleyball teams in State History (32-2 final record.) In the championship vs. 3-seed Chatfield, the 1-seeded Nuggets trailed 2-0. But they stormed back winning each of the next three sets to win the Title.
“It just shows how much we have that we’re willing to fight for,” said senior Sella Fleming. “Just shows how we stick together through the ups and downs, and we don’t give up. Saw our assistant coach, Maggie, hugging another player, and it just like hit me, like we did it, and this is like my last season with everyone. It just – that’s just kind of when it hit me, and then I just started balling.”
A moment these fans, players and community will never forget.
