Britton-Hecla volleyball coach Jenna Peters has been named the Eastern Coteau Conference Coach of the Year and three Lady Braves are members of the All-Conference Team.
Peters guided the Lady Braves to a perfect 6-0 ECC record to claim the league title over Great Plains Lutheran at 5-1, Waubay-Summit 4-2, Florence-Henry 3-3, Waverly-South Shore 2-4, Wilmot 1-5, and Tri-State 0-6. B-H finished its season with a 14-13 overall record.
Great Plains Lutheran senior Jolie Lien was named the ECC most valuable player.
Two B-H players – senior Karlie Zuehlke and sophomore Jaelee Grupe - were named to the All-Conference first team. Senior Abby Lee was a second team selection.
Rounding out the first team were seniors Lien and Kate Holmen of Great Plains Lutheran; senior Roean Raymer, Florence-Henry; junior Addison Heinje, Waubay-Summit; and sophomore Jaina Johnson, Waverly-South Shore.
Other second team picks were sophomores Ana Byer and Addison Byer, Florence-Henry; seniors Brooklyn Remund and Jada Cameron, Wilmot; junior Emily Moritz, Great Plains Lutheran; junior Mackenzie Zubke, Waubay-Summit; and junior Brianna Gottschalk, Waverly-South Shore.
Lady Braves Coach Proud of Girls' Efforts
The Britton-Hecla volleyball squad claimed a conference championship, posted a record over .500, and was playing its’ best volleyball when it counted most during the 2025 campaign.
Coach Jenna Peters, who was named the Eastern Coteau Conference Coach of the Year, guided her team to a perfect 6-0 ECC mark and a 14-13 record overall.
“I was proud of the girls this season,” said Peters. “They really were playing their best volleyball in the postseason and almost took down the number one seed in our region (Groton Area). Their aggressiveness at the net and defense were their strengths this year.”
Peters acknowledged that the team is really going to miss its four seniors from this year’s team but also has some key players returning that give the Lady Braves reason for optimism in the future.
“We are going to miss our seniors so much and have some really big gaps to fill for next year,” said Peters.
Graduating from this year’s team are libero Ava Teveldal, middle hitters Karlie Zuehlke and Abby Lee, and outside hitter Taryn Kraft.
Zuehlke and Lee were forces at the net this season. Zuehlke led the team with 197 kills and Lee added 147. Lee led in blocks with 56 and Zuehlke was second with 40. Sophomore Jaelee Grupe added 176 kills and 30 blocks, junior Maddi Micko 135 kills and 18 blocks, junior Daynika Zuehlke 124 and 18 blocks, and sophomore Chellon Pruitt 109 and 29 blocks.
Grupe led the Lady Braves at the service line, hitting 59 aces on 350-352 tries for 89% and the team hit 89% of its serves for the season. K. Zuehlke had 45 aces and was good on 87% of her tries (280-322). D. Zuehlke added 42 aces and was 270-316 for 85%, and Micko hit 229-254 for 90% and 35 aces. Junior Airiana Buer was the top percentage server, hitting 265-279 tries for 95% and 34 aces. Sophomore Kennady Van Lith hit 85-90 for 94% and 11 aces.
Grupe and Buer were the primary setters for the local netters. Grupe was credited with 455 assists and Buer had 262. Teveldal led the team in digs with 489, D. Zuehlke had 362, Grupe 283, Van Lith 146, Buer 123, junior Brynlee Schmieg 95, K. Zuehlke 94, and Micko 92.
