File photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Cathedral’s Sydnee Helget (2) tips the ball during a home match with Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart earlier this season.

NEW ULM — Entering the 2022 season, the New Ulm Cathedral volleyball team had multiple goals, starting with ending a 29-year Tomahawk Conference title drought.

With a 7-1 finish in the conference this year, the Greyhounds checked that goal off the list.

The Greyhounds, 20-4, ended up tying with Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s for a share of the conference title this year, but they did get bragging rights by defeating the Knights in two matches this season, winning the conference match at home in a sweep on Oct. 4 and winning a nonconference four-setter in Sleepy Eye on Oct. 18 to end the regular season.

“That was a goal that every single one of these girls had coming in,” Greyhounds head coach Becky Wilfahrt said. “We knew that it was going to be tough, and there were some surprise teams. We knew Cedar Mountain was going to be toward the top, and then Sleepy Eye was having a nice run, Wabasso ended up 6-2 [in the conference]. This group of seniors — we’ve been so close so many times. We’ve been second place, second place, second place, where it was just one win away and just other different factors that played into it. So that was a goal they set out for, and because it’s been 30 years, it was something that was important to them and they got it done.”

In her nine years of coaching at Cathedral, this year has been one of Wilfahrt’s most successful seasons.

“This has been probably one of the best seasons I’ve had and it’s because of this group,” Wilfahrt said. “I’ve been with this group of seniors, most of them since they were freshmen, and they’re just such a great group of kids. They’re good leaders, they’re good volleyball players, they’ve put in so much time in the gym and it shows.”

Another goal for the Greyhounds this year was to win enough to get a top three seed in a talented North Subsection of the Section 2A playoffs. When Section 2A seedings were unveiled last Wednesday, Cathedral checked that goal off the list also as the No. 3 seed in the north.

Sitting in front of Cathedral in the north’s seedings is No. 1 Mayer Lutheran (19-4) and No. 2 BOLD (20-4). Mayer Lutheran won the Class A state title last season, sweeping all three teams (South Ridge, Bethlehem Academy, Minneota) they played at the state tourney.

The Greyhounds have featured a squad full of attackers and players that can make plays in the back row as well. The team has also seen an improved block.

This season, the Greyhounds are led by seniors Sydnee Helget (239 kills), Megan Haala (225 kills) and Lily Brennan (177 kills). Senior Annie Edwards captains the offense with 571 set assists.

Defensively, Haala leads the team in digs with 241, while Brennan is close behind with 239, Helget has 209 and junior Jenna Hotovec has 208. Helget also has 34 total blocks this season, while Hotovec has 28.

Wilfahrt also said the team has seen its ace serves go up from last season, led by Haala’s 54 ace serves, Brennan’s 43 and sophomore Jaylin Hartness’ 41.

The Greyhounds turn their attention to sixth-seeded Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart at 7 p.m. Thursday at home in a first-round playoff match. The Greyhounds last swept the Mustangs at home on Oct. 6.

Wilfahrt said BLHS is an athletic team that can keep the ball alive defensively. She also complimented BLHS setter Lily Hubin as a smart player on offense and defense.

If the Greyhounds take down BLHS, they would move on to meet the winner of the No. 2 BOLD-No. 7 Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop game.

“We’re feeling pretty good about playoffs and where we’re at,” Wilfahrt said. “Our game against Sleepy Eye Public last Thursday was one of the best volleyball games I’ve seen in a long time and it’s probably the best volleyball our girls have played. I think they know the level that they can play at and are ready for the challenge.”