Photo by Lee Epps
Seedings held in the 1A tournament, including 3-seed Spring Grove’s straight-set wins into the section semifinals for the first time in four years. Hosting 14-seed Hayfield (9-18), the Lions (18-9) triumphed 3-0 (25-7, 25-17, 25-16). The Vikings led only twice at 1-0 in the first set and 2-1 in set two. SG attacked with 28% efficiency with 46 kills and 16 misfires, while the Vikings were under water with 13 kills and 15 errors. Hayfield served 95% and SG 92%, but the Lions scored with 12 aces (5 errors) to the Vikings’ 4 (2 errors). Izabel Kaufmann led the defense and was the strongest server (12 digs, 13 of 13 serving, 4 aces). Brinley Middendorf led scoring with 14 kills (46% efficiency). Addison Rask (9 digs) and Kallyn Morken (8 digs) each contributed 9 kills. Claire Sherburne was effective all around (4 kills, no errors, 38 assists, 7 digs, 15-16 serving, 3 aces). Help came from Jada Strinmoen (3 kills, 8 digs, 17 for 18 serving, 2 aces) and Lauren Hammel (team-high 57% efficiency, 4 kills). In the quarterfinals at Rochester versus 6-seed Lyle/Pacelli (18-11), it was another 3-0 decision (25-17, 25-14, 25-18). There was no drama during the first two sets before the Athletics enjoyed early leads in set three, including a 13-12 edge before the Lions launched an 8-1 match-securing scoring run. SG hitters scored with 19% efficiency (39 kills), while L/P languished at 1% (22 kills). The Lions served 93%, the Athletics’ 88%. Middendorf again led scoring (12 kills, 4 blocks). Rask was remarkable (9 kills, 12 digs, 3 blocks) while serving 100% (17 for 17) with a match-most 4 aces. Solid performances came from Morken (9 kills, team-high 13 digs), Strinmoen (3 kills on 8 attacks, 9 digs, 3 blocks), Kaufmann (4 assists, 12 digs) and Sherburne (4 kills, 31 assists, 9 digs, 18 for 19 serving). SG (3-seed, 20-9) advances to a semi-final match versus 2-seed #4 in Class A Kenyon-Wanamingo (22-5).
Leave a Reply