Champlin Park’s Jenae Alderson understands the importance of team chemistry.

The junior outside hitter said her teammates never lost confidence in each other despite struggling during their Class 3A, Section 5 semifinal match with Blaine on Wednesday at Champlin Park High School.

“We never got down on each other when we made a mistake,” Alderson said. “It’s really nice to have a team that came together even we were losing.”

Service errors and a superior performance from the Bengals’ sophomore setter Laura Snyder caused trouble for the Rebels in the tight match. However, top-seeded Champlin Park relied on its chemistry and the play of Alderson and sophomore setter Sydney Hilley to battle back and defeat fifth-seeded Blaine 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23.

Alderson finished with 16 kills and 19 digs, while Hilley had 24 kills and 11 digs.

Hilley recorded four of her kills in the first set as the Rebels grabbed the early advantage. 

Champlin Park struggled with its serve in the second set and Blaine capitalized by scoring on several aces. The Bengals stayed with the Rebels throughout the third set led by the play of seniors Rebecca Hawkins and Taylor Morgan, who was back on the court after spending much of the season sidelined with a knee injury. 

Morgan, a middle hitter, had nine kills in the match. Hawkins, a setter, finished with nine kills and 10 digs but made her biggest contribution running Blaine’s offense, which recorded 24 kills in the match. 

Snyder stepped up her play in the fourth set, recording five kills to help Blaine keep the score close.

The Bengals held a lead until a few hits from Hilley and sophomore middle hitter Maria Claflin helped the Rebels even the score. Champlin Park then closed out the set and the match with a 9-7 scoring run.

Snyder finished with 14 kills, 15 assists and 11 digs and senior defensive specialist Mary Klein recorded five aces in the match for the Bengals.

The victory was Champlin Park’s second over Blaine this season. The Rebels topped the Bengals 3-0 on Oct. 14.

Champlin Park coach John Yunker said he knew Blaine would be more difficult to defeat in a second matchup.

“We caught Blaine on a little bit of an off night last time, so we knew it wasn’t going to be like that,” he added.

Alderson expected the Bengals to be a tougher opponent, as well.

“It’s hard to beat a team twice, but it can be done,” Alderson said. 

The victory also gives the Rebels a chance to redeem their performance in last year’s section final, where they lost, Alderson said.

Champlin Park advances to play second-seeded Totino-Grace in the section championship, a match that will be a challenge for the Rebels, Yunker said.

“(The Eagles) have a lot of energy, and they showed they’re not going to quit with the last match here,” he said. “It’s going to be a good one.”

Totino-Grace outlasted Osseo to win 3-2 in the other section semifinal match, setting up a section final that pits friends against friends.

“It’s such a shame because we’re kind of friends, but now we have to face each other,” Alderson said.

Sophomore setter Sydney Hilley and junior outside hitter Jenae Alderson combined for 40 kills and 27 digs, powering top-seeded Champlin Park to a 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory over fifth-seeded Blaine in a Class 3A, Section 5 semifinal match Wednesday at Champlin Park High School.

Hilley had 24 kills and 11 digs, while Alderson finished with 16 kills and 16 digs. 

Senior middle hitter Taylor Morgan recorded seven kills for the Bengals, including two in Blaine’s second set victory. 

Senior defensive specialist Mary Klein had four aces to help the Bengals take a lead in the fourth set, but blocks by Champlin Park sophomore middle blockers Maria Claflin and Marisa Vattendahl-Vidal sparked a Rebels’ rally that secured the match victory.

Champlin Park plays second-seeded Totino-Grace in the section championship match at Anoka High School on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

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