Folks in Wagner have been following Koupal and this group of seniors, Madi Knebel, Shona Kocer, Sabrina Kreber and Abrianna Leines for six years wondering what accomplishments the student-athletes would achieve. 

Koupal’s 3,000th assist meant a little something extra to coach Stacey Knebel whose daughter Madi was born about a week before Macy Koupal. 

“The work ethic she has as a high school athlete is simply unheard of,” Stacey Knebel said. “After getting 1,000 assists during her junior year we knew getting to 3,000 would be close. She’s always been a team-first player and that’s something I love about her.” 

As it happened Knebel was hoping the accomplishment would come before postseason play started. Knebel noted that Koupal is a smart young lady (4.0 GPA), very competitive and comes from an athletic family. 

As a little girl Koupal used to hit the volleyball on the roof of the family home, waiting for it to bounce back so she could set it to an imaginary hitter. 

“I really liked setting and it is a position that has stuck with me ever since,” Koupal said.

Knebel said Koupal has been playing sports since the day she could walk and that she’s been attending high school volleyball and basketball practices since as early as the third grade.

Knebel said all of Koupal’s time watching as a youngster and playing has turned the Wagner setter into the perfect orchestrator of the offense.

“She is probably one of our most athletic kids and very court aware,” Knebel said. “It is a no-brainer to have her be the quarterback of the team because she sees everything, she’s aware of everything going on during a match.” 

Wagner's Macy Koupal (4) and Shona Kocer (6) protect the net against Mount Vernon/Plankinton earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The current group of Wagner seniors was moved up to the high school level while still in middle-school. Koupal began full-time midway through her freshman season and has been perfecting her craft since. 

“The decision of where to set is a split-second decision and comes in the moment,” said Koupal, who will play college basketball at Dordt University. “We have so many great hitters and I trust them to do their job. I like to move blockers and our middle-hitters are really awesome and can hit around blocks.”

Knebel said Koupal has become more of a vocal-leader and helping develop younger teammates.

“She has really taken ownership in the leadership department,” Knebel said. “Macy’s done a good job working with Braxton Nedved, who is going to be our new Macy when this group of seniors graduates.”