Wayzata entered the Class 3A, Section 5 semifinals against Osseo with one game plan: focus on stopping Orioles junior middle hitter Tina Boe for the entire game.

Junior middle hitter Morgan Baufield and senior libero Raegan Palesch both played a role in stopping Boe, who finished with 18 kills, 12 digs and five blocks.

Baufield and Palesch also were key in keeping the ball off the floor, helping the top-seeded Trojans advance to the section finals with a 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 victory over fifth-seeded Osseo on Wednesday at Wayzata High School.

Unlike most middle hitters, Baufield plays in all six rotations. She said will play wherever she is needed on the court by the team, adding that she enjoys her time in the back row.

Against Osseo, Baufield's defensive prowess was on display. She extended to pull up a ball in the back right corner and made a diving save on a ball that was about to drop short to tally nine digs and eight kills in the game.

“She is intensely competitive, I can’t use enough adjectives to describe how competitive she is,” Trojans coach Scott Jackson said.

Baufield is not the only volleyball player in her family. Her older sister, Lauren, played volleyball at East Tennessee State and is an assistant coach for the Bucs.

“Yeah, being competitive is probably a family thing,” Baufield said.

To balance the high emotions of Baufield, Jackson relies on libero and senior captain Palesch, who is also a pitcher on Wayzata's softball team.

“She’s also fiercely competitive. But as a pitcher, she’s used to being in big situations, so she leans on that competitive experience,” Jackson said.

Palesch prefers volleyball to softball but enjoys the team dynamic of both sports. Palesch, who recorded 23 digs against the Orioles, said she is used to being in pressure situations.

Palesch may be composed on the court, but she said she appreciates Baufield's the energy.

“Morgan’s one of our huge emotional players on the team,” Palesch said. “We work really well together.”

The duo has every intention on bring Wayzata (23-7), ranked No. 7 in the season's final Class 3A coaches' poll, to the Class 3A state tournament this year. Eden Prairie upset the Trojans in last year's section finals.

“We’re already focusing on the next game,” Baufield said.

Jackson said the key to securing a trip to state will be staying composed while battling highly competitive emotions. 

Junior setter MacKenzie Groechel had 25 assists, 10 digs and five aces as top-seeded Wayzata defeated fifth-seeded Osseo 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 in the Class 3A, Section 5 semifinals Wednesday night at Wayzata High School.

The Trojans (23-7), ranked No. 7 in the season's final Class 3A coaches' poll, could not stop Orioles junior middle hitter Tina Boe in Set 1. Boe, who was named to the Star Tribune's 2015 All-Metro team, finished the night with 18 kills, five blocks and 12 digs.

Osseo was called for numerous double hit violations, allowing Wayzata to build a 14-5 lead in Set 2, while Trojans senior outside hitter Lauren Jagerson also went on a serving run to keep the Orioles at bay.

Senior libero Raegan Palesch halted Osseo’s offense in the third and fourth sets. Palesch finished the night with 23 digs.

Junior outside hitter Kate Berg sealed Wayzata’s win in Set 4 with back-to-back kills. Berg finished with 16 kills while Morgan Baufield had eight and Jagerson added six.

Orioles setter Ellie Hoyt finished with 26 assists as Osseo ends its season with a 22-7 overall record.

Wayzata advances to the section championship, where faces second-seeded Champlin Park at Anoka High School on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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