It was a hard one to see coming. FC volleyball has been a strong program in the TRC for about a decade. Chatfield was good in the early 2010s, but then fell off. The Falcons have won the last four meetings by sweep (though Chatfield twice got to 20 last season). Each team entered a 2020 match-up having played PEM. FC swept (25-17, 25-17, 25-20). Chatfield got swept (11-25, 10-25, 15-25). An “upset” ensued. Set one was all Gophers. Molly Thomas’ group scored 17 of the final 21 points (breaking an 8-8 tie) for a 25-12 win. Game two was all over the place. A 6-0 run gave the Falcons a lead (9-4). Mostly amidst a seven-point Jaiden Zimmerman serving session, Chatfield ran 8-0 (12-9). Zimmerman also had a pivotal seven-point scoring session in game one. FC fought back for ties at 22 and then 24. A Falcon hitting error and a Paige Erickson ace gave Chatfield the set (26-24), the 2-0 lead. The Falcons then jumped out 9-2 in game three and rolled to a 25-17 victory, making it 2-1. Game four was all over the place. Chatfield led (8-1) only for FC to spurt 11-1 (12-9). The Falcons built a 17-12 edge, having scored 16 of 20 points! The Gophers then scored five straight (17-17). After four more ties, a key sequence ensued. Gopher junior Peyton Berg twice denied Falcon top hitter Maddie Krage. Berg then pushed one down in back corner. The big point gave Chatfield a 23-21 lead. With it 24-23, Erickson pushed one down in the corner. Chatfield shocked the Falcons, 3-1 (25-12, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23). Berg (8 kills, 10 digs), Erickson (11 kills, 3 blks), Zayda Priebe (9 kills), Zimmerman (6 kills, 11 digs), and Kennedie Schmaltz (4 kills, 4 blocks) gave the Gophers balance. Devann Clemens (17 assists, 7 digs) and Sydney Allen (16 assists, 7 digs) set, Abi Hinckley (8 digs) passed. FC leaned on the senior hitter Krage (26 kills on .429 hitting). All other Falcons combined for 20 kills, led by Hadley Yoder (7 kills, 5 aces), Kammry Broadwater (6 kills), and Lauren Mensink (5 kills, 34 assists). K.J. Corson added 16 digs. It is Chatfield’s first win over FC since 2015. The Gophers then beat L-A in four sets, 25-15, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, balance and blocking keys. Erickson (9 kills, 5 aces, 6 blks), Priebe (9 kills, 6 blks), and Berg (8 kills, 12 digs) led the offense. Clemens (15 assists, 18-18 serving, 3 aces, 7 digs) and Allen (14 assists, 10 digs) set. Hinckley (11digs) and Zimmerman (9 digs) played defensive. After an opening loss to PEM, the Gophers are 2-1.
Photo: Chatfield junior Peyton Berg goes for the tip versus a couple FC defenders. Berg and company pulled a stunning victory, beating the Falcons 3-1 in a TRC volleyball match-up.
Photo by Leif Erickson