Falcons Vie For Shared TRC Title

The last week of TRC volleyball action had big league-title connotations for Fillmore Central. The Falcons (9-1, 13-6) entered tied for second place with PEM (8-1, 13-2), ahead of third place D-E (7-2, 12-7), behind Caledonia (10-0, 19-2). If senior-dominated FC could beat the Eagles and Warriors, it’d guarantee a share of the TRC crown. Dover-Eyota was squelched via sweep (25-10, 25-20, 25-14). Tayah Barnes led the way (15 digs, 17-17 serving, 5 aces). Kenzie Broadwater (7 kills, 9 digs, 3 aces), Paige Bennett (7 kills, .429 hitting), Cailey Rindels (6 kills), Kelsey Berg (5 kills), and Kendyl Bennett (4 kills, 3.5 blocks) all got into it offensively. Setters Bailey Barnes (16 assists) and Madison Scheevel (12 assists, 7 digs) spread it around. The win was the Falcons’ 8th straight league-game sweep. FC’s TRC finale was at 5th-ranked Caledonia (20-2). The meeting was the team’s second. Caledonia won at the W-K Invite 25-13, 23-25, 17-15. Another competitive match ensued. FC fell back in game one (14-10), but used a couple big blocks to even the score at 14. It was one of nine ties. The Falcons erased the last (21-21) with a 4-1 run for the 25-22 victory. The next three games all had five-plus ties. FC overcame a 19-14 deficit in game two, tying things at 22-22, only to fall 25-23. They led game three 13-9 only for a 7-0 Warrior run, a 16-13 lead, a 25-20 win. Game four was tied as late as 20-20. The game-clinching sequenced epitomized the match. T-Barnes denied multiple Warrior shots before softly pushing a ball over that seemed destined to score. Warrior senior Mariah Schroeder’s diving save then floated over into a void for match point. Caledonia clinched a share of the TRC, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20, and 25-21. Barnes (25 digs) relentlessly defended. P-Bennett (13 kills, .364 hitting), Broadwater (10 kills, 11 digs), and Kaelyn Marzolf (7 kills) led the FC ‘O’. Madison Scheevel had 20 assists, 11 digs, and 2 aces (16-16 serving). Sam Schroeder (13 kills), Madisyn Heaney (13 kills, 13 digs), Lydia Lange (9 kills), and M-Schroeder (8 kills, 11 digs) led Caledonia. Fifth-year starting setter Adrianna Reinhardt had 43 assists. FC (10-2, 14-7) will likely finish in third place in the TRC behind Caledonia and PEM.