Volleyball: CCS Eagles hope to continue their success

Aug. 28—WILLMAR — The Community Christian School volleyball team has been on quite the run the last two seasons.

Last year, the Eagles finished second in the Minnesota Christian Athletic Conference Tier I tournament, falling to host First Baptist School of Rosemount after earning victories over Rochester Home Schools in the first round and St. Cloud Christian School in the second.

In 2024, CCS went 21-0, winning the MCAC's end-of-the-season tournament.

And, the Eagles already have begun the 2026 season with a victory, beating the Fourth Baptist Warriors of Plymouth 3-0.

The team will have a different look in 2026.

Gone are five seniors who led to much of the Eagles' success. Margo Klaassen, Lexi Nelson, Alyssa Schwantes, Elsie Sing and Grace Strom have graduated. Klaassen is now attending college at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. It's an NCAA Division III program where Klaassen will play basketball.

This year's team will have two seniors, Faith Westin and Lola Nelson.

Those two will be joined by juniors Addison Kveene, Sophie Buetow, Olivia Erickson and Vienna Norling.

Also on the squad is sophomore Jaelynn Johnson and two ninth-graders, Ella Kannas and Claire Fries.

The head coach is Rebecca Westin.

There are 20 programs playing volleyball in the MCAC this season. CCS is in the West Division with the Faith Christian School Saints, the King's Academy Lions and the Lake Region Christian Hornets. Faith Christian is located in Foreston. The King's Academy is in St. Cloud and was formerly known as St. Cloud Christian School. Lake Region is located in Baxter.

The South Division includes the First Baptist Crusaders, the Fourth Baptist Warriors, the Immanuel Lutheran Trojans, the Prior Lake Christian Royals and the Rochester Home School Defenders.

The MCAC Central has the Cambridge Christian Warriors, the Chisago Lakes Christian Patriots, the St. Francis Christian Patriots, the Valley Christian Jaguars of Osceola, Wisconsin, and the Woodcrest Baptist Academy Warriors of Fridley.

Also in the MCAC are Alexandria Community Christian School of Alexandria, the Genesis Classic Academy Griffins in Winnebago, the Heritage Patriots, the Liberty Christian Golden Eagles of Chippewa Falls, Wis., the Lighthouse Christian Academy Eagles of Grand Rapids and the Owatonna Christian Sabres.