After a disappointing 3-14 season last year from the 2023-2024 Columbia Heights girls’ varsity volleyball team, not many expected a rebound this year after losing key seniors and even a coach, but rebound they did.
Led by ex-captains and seniors Carolina Baldovinos Miranda and Kalise Lewis as well as newly elected captain and senior Anahis Chacon Contreras, the teams had 47 student-athletes spread throughout C-squad, B-squad, junior varsity and varsity. With eight new additions including a transfer student from Iowa, the varsity team in particular was poised to be a year of transition and growth, but it was luckily also a season of success.
Impressively winning eight more games than the previous year, they also set a new record-placing second in their home tournament, which has never happened in the history of the sport at Columbia Heights High School (CHHS). The team ultimately ended the season with an 11-14 record, which is exceptional as they faced off against historically tough schools. Academy of Holy Angels, DeLaSalle and Visitation in particular all rank in the top 200 teams in Minnesota, but the Hylanders are on their way to join these ranks if they can keep the momentum in the future. This year laid the groundwork with wins against Fridley, Humboldt and Robbinsdale Cooper—just to name a few. Overall, the varsity team ranked sixth in the conference and 346 overall in Minnesota.
“We made a lot of improvement, and we had a lot of wins compared to last year,” Chacon (12) said. “I liked how the underclassmen stepped up and took every game seriously. I’m excited to see what next year’s team will look like, [and] I wish them the best of luck!”
The varsity team also has a new assistant coach this year after the departure of Junior Varsity Coach Lindsey Kamp. Elizabeth Brubakken is familiar with Columbia Heights as she is an alumnus and even played volleyball during her high school years here at CHHS. It’s her second year coaching the sport, but this is her first year serving as an assistant coach for the varsity team. Many on the team believe she played a huge role in coaching girls who played defense and helped them hone many techniques.
There are also two brand new additions to the coaching staff this year for the B-squad and C-squad teams: Maddie Grace and Pashia Scott. Both used to play at and graduated from CHHS, and they will continue coaching for next year’s 2025-2026 team.
Head coach Zach Awsumb, meanwhile, has been coaching volleyball for many years and continues to coach the CHHS team he loves. It seems to be a trend that volleyball coaches are alumni because Awsumb was also a Columbia Heights alumnus. Generally speaking, CHHS volleyball coaches are no strangers to Columbia Heights, and returning to their alma mater often strengthens the bonds with student-athletes further than an outside hire could.
Proof of this is in the awards that the varsity team won this year: Baldovinos Miranda earned all-conference honors, Ava Sinchi (10) and Zoe Zuehlke (11) earned all-conference honorable mentions, and as for the team-elected honors, Zuehlke was awarded team MVP, Sinchi was awarded most spirited and Karla Fernandez Torijano (12) was awarded as the most improved player.
“The 2024-2025 volleyball season has been the best season I could have asked for,” Baldovinos Miranda (12) said. “The work and effort my coaches [and] teammates have put into the season has been amazing!”
Overall, the Columbia Heights girls’ volleyball teams had a very successful season. The varsity team in particular tripled their win total from the previous season, and many underclassmen boldly stepped up to fill big roles which all played a large part in the team’s success. Outgoing seniors and continuing players alike, as well as fans, are all excited to see how CHHS volleyball will improve in 2025-26. Now comes the hardest part: waiting for it!
