MARSHALL — Expectations are once again high for Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball, and the Mustangs will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves early in the 2026 season. SMSU has won at least 20 matches in 21 of the last 22 seasons, establishing itself as one of the ...
DAWSON — The Dawson-Boyd football team enters the 2026 season with a strong foundation after another successful year on the turf in 2025. The Blackjacks finished last season with an 8-3 record and advanced to the section championship game, putting themselves one win away from a trip to the state tournament. Their season ended against Minneota, which went on to advance to state, but the experience has given Dawson-Boyd a high standard to chase heading into the new season. Head coach Cory Larson returns to lead the Blackjacks and believes the team has plenty of experience to build ...
WABASSO — Two years ago, the Wabasso football team finished 2-7. One year later, the Rabbits flipped that record around, finishing 8-2 and advancing to the Section 2 9-player championship game. Now, after a dramatic turnaround, Wabasso enters the 2026 season with elevated expectations and a belief that the program can take another step forward. The Rabbits' only two losses last season came against Red Rock Central, including a loss to the Falcons in the section championship game. Despite falling short of a section title, the postseason run gave Wabasso valuable experience and helped ...
MARSHALL — The Marshall Tigers volleyball program has built a tradition of success on the biggest stage, and the expectations will remain high heading into the 2026 season. Marshall enters the season as the defending Class AAA state champion after defeating Benilde-St. Margaret's in four sets in the 2025 state championship match. The title marked the Tigers' third state championship of the decade and extended their remarkable streak of state tournament appearances, with Marshall qualifying every year since 2017. Head coach Dan Westby returns to lead the Tigers and knows replacing ...
LAMBERTON — The Red Rock Central volleyball team will enter the 2026 season with a new leader at the helm and a new vision as the Falcons look to make their mark in the competitive Red Rock Conference. Paige Lingle will take over as head coach in her first season leading the Falcons. After Red Rock Central finished 5-17 last season, Lingle is focused on building a strong team culture while helping the players develop throughout the season. One of the biggest keys for Lingle will be keeping the team composed when adversity strikes. With a conference filled with talented teams, the ...
CANBY — The Canby football team will look to return to playoff success in the 2026 season, but the Lancers will have little time to ease into the new campaign with a difficult schedule awaiting them. Head coach Nick Kockelman returns to lead Canby and knows the team will need to be ready from the opening kickoff. The Lancers will face the same schedule as last season, but the home and away games have been flipped. “Our schedule this year is really tough,” Kockelman said. “It is flipped from last year with who we play home and away. Getting ready right away in the year, those ...
