Over the course of 24 hours, the Ely Timberwolves will find out just how they stack up against the state’s elite small-school volleyball programs.
This weekend, the high school volleyball team is in Burnsville, taking part in the invitation-only Class A Showcase.
The marquee event brings together 16 of the best Class A teams in the state, including several with state tournament pedigrees and nearly all of the top-rated Class A schools.
Ely, off to a 10-1 start, will face perennial powerhouse Minneota (9-2), Sacred Heart (12-0) and Spring Grove (74) in pool play Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
From there, the Wolves move on to bracket play against two more contenders.
By the end of the weekend, Ely could be matched with as many as four of the state’s top-10 Class A teams, and the Wolves themselves are currently ranked 11th, according to the QRF formula used to determine playoff seeding.
Ely made three straight state tournament appearances from 2022-2024 and has high hopes for a fourth trip, and this weekend’s games will almost certainly serve as good preparation for the postseason.
The Wolves were winless at the Class A Showcase a year ago, but they played without hitter Audrey Kallberg, who missed the entire 2025 campaign with a knee injury.
Kallberg is back and is among a cadre of Wolves hitters who have powered the team to their dynamic start.
Ely’s only blemish so far is a five-set loss to Chisholm, which is ranked seventh in Class A and also competing in the weekend showcase.
• In a tune-up earlier this week, the Wolves made quick work of Iron Range and Arrowhead Conference foe International Falls, disposing of the host Broncos in roughly an hour, prevailing 25-10, 25-14, 25-14.
International Falls barely reached double digits in the opening set as the Wolves got off to a fast start.
It was a big night for senior Lydia Shultz, who powered the Ely offense with a match-high 15 kills to go with 12 digs.
Kallberg notched eight kills, fellow senior Amelia Penke finished with seven and Violet Udovich added another six.
Five different Wolves had ace serves, with Ruby Lowe delivering four on the night.
As usual, senior Gretta Lowe set up the Ely offense, passing her way to another 36 set assists.
Penke, Charlotte Hegman and Gretta Lowe all had five digs.
• The Wolves bounced back from the Chisholm loss with a stellar comeback against Mesabi East.
After dropping the first two sets, Ely figured out Mesabi East’s potent attack and rallied for a five-set win before a huge Homecoming Week audience at the Memorial Gymnasium.
The Wolves pulled out a 20-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 16-14 win in a contest that went right down to the wire and had the crowd at the edge of their collective seats on many occasions.
Kallberg came on strong at the net, hammering home 17 kills as Ely warmed up starting in the third set.
Udovich also reached double digits with 12 kills, while Penke and Hegman added another seven apiece and Shultz recorded five.
Gretta Lowe picked up 42 set assists while quarterbacking the offense, and Shultz, Ruby Lowe and Peyton Huntington all had four digs.
