GRAND MEADOW — When Grand Meadow junior Allie Lubahn switched from the back row to setter last season, she was a little overwhelmed. But as time went on she grew used to it and Lubahn adjusted to being in a major leadership role.

With just two years under her belt, Lubahn has already passed the 1,000 career set assist mark — a milestone she didn’t think she would surpass until her seniors season. The Superlarks have also excelled as a team as they won the SEC West with a school record of 20 wins on the season.

Lubahn, who started playing volleyball when her mom signed her up in elementary school, has had a blast on the court this season for the Larks, who will play at Mabel-Canton in the SEC title match 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“I think it helps a lot that we’re so close as a team. There’s no tension between us,” Lubahn said. “We’re all friends and that helps a lot on the court because we don’t get down on each other.”

When Lubahn took over as setter last season, the Larks were coming off a 12-win season and they had just nine wins in 2013. The last two years, GM has combined for 37 wins.

GM senior hitter Brittanie Winfield has been a varsity player for four years and she’s been pleased with the transition the Larks and Lubahn have made.

“Every year our record has gotten better. We had a lot of athletic girls coming up who brought competitiveness to the floor. We had to battle for positions and people started picking up their game,” Winfield said. “Allie has improved [as a setter]. I was glad I got to start her journey with her, but sadly I’m not going to be ending it with her. It’s been a really exciting process for her and I’m really excited for her.”

Sophomore hitter Jordyn Glynn has been one of the young GM players picking up her play this year. She and the other GM hitters have been able to work out their timing with Lubahn on regular basis.

“It’s been so much fun. All of the girls get a long so well and that’s made the season great,” Glynn said. “[Having Allie at setter] was a pretty smooth transition. She handles everything very well.”

For Lubahn, mastering the setter position was as simple as getting to know what type of set her hitters like.

“I have to find their perfect set,” Lubahn said. “They all have specific sets that they need.”

As they open postseason play next week, the Larks have their sights set on advancing to the Section 1A semifinals and playing in Rochester. To do that, they’ll certainly have to ride the leadership of Lubahn and Winfield.

“People kind of considered this as a rebuilding year this year, which it was. We had a lot of younger girls who played smaller roles for us last year play bigger roles this year,” GM head coach Tori Burmester said. “Allie had to step up and be a leader on the floor for us to make sure those younger hitters knew what was going on.”

The last GM volleyball player to record 1,000 set assists was Autumn Thorsen, who had 1,016 total assists when she finished her senior year in 2012.

GM VOLLEYBALL RECORDS

2013: 9-14

2014: 12-19

2015: 17-16

2016: 20-10 (current record)