Mabel-Canton volleyball started it first full week of the season by staying busy on the court, and staying busy in the win department. Following up a season-opening revenge win over Grand Meadow, the Cougars easily handled “Journal 11” SEC squads Kingsland and Lanesboro. Versus the Knights, M-C cruised to a 3-0 sweep (25-11, 25-8, 25-2). The Cougars were 72 of 73 serving with 16 aces. Sophomore setter Sahara Morken led the way (32 assists, 27-27 serving, 6 aces). Classmate Kailey Ingvalson (6 kills, 12-12 serving, 3 aces) and senior MaKenzie Kelly (5 digs, 4 aces) also helped in the serving department. Kinley Soiney (9 kills), Sophie Morken (7 kills, 7 digs), Saijal Slafter (6 kills), and Tylar Wenthold (5 kills) gave the Cougars offensive balance. Kingsland was led by Morgan Phillips (4 kills, 4 digs), Macie Rasmussen (10 assists), and Anika Reiland (6 digs). Lanesboro then came to town. A year ago, match-ups between the two teams were hyped. M-C swept the season series with 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 26-24) and 3-1 (26-24, 29-31, 26-24, 25-18) wins. The Burros graduated their setter and libero, and have a new coach. M-C retained a good deal of its continuity. Said things helped the Cougars post a much-easier-than-last-year, 3-0 sweep (25-6, 25-14, 25-11). Soiney (10 kills) led the offense. Seven Cougars recorded at least four kills. Slafter (7 kills, 3 total blks), Sophie M. (6 kills, 16-17 serving, 3 aces), Ingvalson (4 kills), Wenthold (4 kills), Hope Erickson (4 kills, 3 total blks), and Sahara M. (4 kills) also got there. The latter racked up 33 assists while hitting 100% (all four of her attacks scored). Libero Kelly (6 aces, 8 digs) led the serving and defensive effort. Lanesboro was led by Kaci Ruen (5 kills, 3 total blks) and Jensyn Storhoff (8 digs). A season ago, Ruen had 18 and 24 kills respectively in the two match-ups. Lanesboro fell to 2-1, 2-1. M-C then trekked north and promptly won the Floodwood Tourney. In pool play, they defeated South Ridge (25-18, 25-20), Floodwood (25-16, 25-16), Proctor (25-6, 25-22), and Duluth-Denfield (25-14, 25-7). The top four teams made the finals tourney. M-C then beat South Ridge (25-18, 25-16) and Proctor (25-15, 25-20) to sweep the tourney and claim the title. Cougar leaders were Sophie M. (31 kills, 58 digs, 11 aces), Sahara M. (136 assists, 12 aces), Soiney (36 kills, 14 total blocks), Slafter (31 kills), Ingvalson (30 kills, 31 digs), and Kelly (42 digs). The Cougars are 3-0, 9-0.
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