Sep. 11—EAST GRAND FORKS — Lanee Hams has been playing volleyball for just over two years.
The East Grand Forks junior grew up primarily playing soccer and basketball. In eighth grade, she was asked to play goalkeeper, partially because of her height.
Hams, however, didn't enjoy the position. A senior teammate's grandma suggested trying volleyball.
"I decided I would give it a try," Hams said. "I ended up falling in love with the sport. "
Hams, who hadn't played volleyball since early elementary school, quickly moved up to varsity as a freshman in her first season.
Hams entered the sport as a strong athlete, but her biggest challenges in the transition were building confidence and learning the game.
"I have definitely grown a lot," Hams said. "My freshman year, I was so nervous. I really didn't know anything. I didn't know footwork, I didn't know any of the rotations, I didn't know any of the numbers on the court. So I went in just hoping that I would get taught everything, and I really have. Now knowing all that, looking back, it's like, how did I not know that? I've definitely learned a lot in these three years. "
Hams, a hitter, stepped up as one of the Green Wave's most productive players as a sophomore. She was an all-Polar North Conference player, finishing with a team-high 285 kills as well as 21 aces, 126 blocks and 123 digs.
"I don't think I would be able to do what I did without my family and all the teammates," Hams said. "They really just welcomed me and made me so much less nervous, and taught me things I never knew about volleyball. The coaching staff, too.
"They never made me feel dumb for asking a question, because I didn't know much about volleyball at all. Instead of making me feel dumb, they just helped me and asked if I had any more questions. I really think that's a big step in what helped me get to where I am. "
This season has been more of the same. Hams, who stands at roughly 6-foot-1, leads East Grand Forks with 27 kills through three games.
"She's just really picking it up fast, and has improved tremendously," head coach Paula Devine said. "Switching from soccer to volleyball in ninth grade — it's tough to do. There's not many kids that could have done it. ... She has put in the extra time and has really worked at it. "
Hams earned 12 kills in last Tuesday's three-set win over Hawley.
Hawley, the two-time defending Minnesota Class 2A state champion, had not been swept in three sets since Sept. 5, 2023, according to Minnesota-Scores.
"We knew that they were going to be a good team, and we had to give it our best," Hams said. "We started off a little bit rocky, but we dug ourselves right out of the hole, and we never got down on ourselves. That's a big part of how we won, we never gave up on each other. "
Hams is just one piece of East Grand Forks' 3-0 start. The Green Wave return contributors across the court, including junior hitter Sydney McDonald, senior setter Hayden Berg, senior hitter Brooke Hecht and senior libero Kelsey Spilde.
East Grand Forks also opened the season with a measure of revenge. The Green Wave beat Wadena-Deer Creek 3-1, a team they lost to in the Section 8AA tournament semifinals last year.
"It was probably the best way the season could have started," Hams said. "Starting how we ended, except instead of taking a loss, we won. It definitely gave us a preview of what we hope the rest of the season will look like. ... We had lots of confidence going into the season, and we're all just really excited and hoping to go far. Especially after the past few games, we're just hyped for the rest of the season, and we're still working hard. "
EGF Senior High
Coach: Paula Devine.
2025 finish: 18-14, lost to Wadena-Deer Creek in the Section 8AA tournament semifinals.
Key returners: Jr. MH Lanee Hams; jr. OH/OPP/MH Sydney McDonald; sr. S Hayden Berg; sr. L Kelsey Spilde; sr. MH/OPP Brooke Hecht; sr. OPP/MH CoCo Williams.
Top newcomers: fr. H Camille Julien; sr. DS Kayla Carpenter.
Coach Devine says: "I've seen tremendous work ethic. They're working towards their goals, and the winning has taken care of itself so far. But it's a day-to-day battle, working hard every day. "
EGF Sacred Heart
Coach: Emily Vonasek.
2025 finish: 29-2, lost to Ada-Borup-West in the Section 8A tournament championship.
Key returners: Sr. S Finley Horken; sr. OH Lydia Riskey; sr. OH Lexi Lawrence; soph. MH Bryn Stevens; sr. L Claire Adolphson; soph. RS Stella Riskey.
Top newcomer: Soph. MH Greta Effhauser.
Coach Vonasek says: "I'm seeing some quality volleyball already, which is great. I'm seeing a want and a desire to grow and become better players throughout the season, so we peak at the end of the season. We've really been working a lot on some specifics of the game, such as passing and being aggressive with our serves and that type of thing. But I'm just looking for continued growth and a great season. "
GF Central
Coach: Darwin Kasprowicz.
2025 finish: 5-26.
Key returners: Sr. OH Marley Uhlir; soph. L Norah Presteng.
Top newcomers: Jr. DS McKenzie Carroll; soph. OPP Peyton Bossert; soph. OPP Elliot Hale.
Coach Kasprowicz says: "We have a very tight-knit group. They all get along pretty well. ... You can see it in the gym. They all respect each other and they're all friends. That just makes it easier to be out on the court playing, having a good time. We have a good mixture of experience, so we have some seniors that are teaching these younger girls what to do and giving them advice on the court and what they've learned over the years. With that, there's still a lot of room to grow with this team, so that's what I'm excited for. It's early in the season, it really only matters at the end of the season what we look like. It's the journey of getting to that endpoint and seeing our best lineup at the end of the year. "
GF Red River
Coach: Carolyn Olson.
2025 finish: 11-21.
Key returners: Sr. OH Lauren Endres; sr. S/OPP Avi Johnson; sr. MB/OPP Paige Anderson.
Top newcomers: Soph. L Navi Chine; soph. S Brynlie Boespflug; fr. OH Sloane Smaby; fr. MB Kaylee Hegland.
Coach Olson says: "We're rebuilding this year. We're going to be up and down as we gain varsity experience through the first half, maybe three quarters of the season. I think by the end, we'll be really competitive in the EDC, and we look for the development of our younger athletes to really be something that will help us in the end. "
