Volleyball: #3 Gophers Clinch Share of TRC Title, Win Goodhue Tourney

Chatfield volleyball entered its last full week of regular season action sitting in sole possession of first place in the TRC.   A 7-0 week has #3 in Class AA Chatfield continuing it excellent campaign.  Just a few days after beating R-P at home non-conference 3-1, the Gophers swept the Trojans 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14) in the teams’ league affair. 

Harper Goldsmith notched her third triple-double to lead the effort (10 kills, 18 assists, 11 digs, 4 total blks, 20-22 serving, 3 aces).  Jaelyn LaPlante (15 kills, 8 digs) and Cora Bicknese (7 assists, 28 digs) also played big.  Hannah Tweten (12 assists, 5 digs, 11-11 serving, 3 aces), Evy Goldsmith (9 kills), and Trindy Barkeim (5 kills, 6 digs) helped the cause.  R-P was led by Torryn Schneider (20 digs), Ava Helgemoe (9 kills), Kayla Magin (11 assists, 6 digs), Lindsey Hoiness (4 kills, 14 digs), and Kallie Eide (6 digs). 

Chatfield then hosted Lewiston-Altura, took the first two sets, spotted the Cardinals a game, but then won in four (25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18).  H-Goldsmith (10 kills, 21 assists, 7 digs, 24-28 serving, 6 aces) was again all-over.  LaPlante (16 kills, 8 digs), E-Goldsmith (10 kills), Tweten (13 assists), Bicknese (5 assists, 10 digs), Barkeim (8 kills), and Charleigh Larson (17-20 serving, 4 aces) helped.  Said win guaranteed Chatfield a share of the TRC title. 

Kristi Rindels’ group then swept through five teams at the Goodhue Tourney, beating Medford 2-0 (25-14, 25-14), Hayfield 2-0 (25-16, 25-18), Alden-Conger 2-0 (25-10, 25-20), and Spring Grove 2-0 (25-15, 25-21) in pool play.  Both the Knights (21-5) and Lions (20-7) are 20 wins (Class A) teams.  Chatfield then ended its week how it started it, playing R-P for the title.  The Gophers prevailed 2-0 (25-18, 25-13) to claim the championship. 

For SG and R-P’s results at Goodhue, see “Non-Conference Volleyball.”  The Gophers (9-0, 23-2) have now surpassed 20 wins and will at least share the TRC title with FC (8-1, 17-5) or Caledonia (8-1, 22-5), who play in a TRC season finale.  Chatfield can in the title out-right by beating W-K.