There was still the better part of three sets left to play, but Eagan’s 25-12, 25-13, 25-15 victory over Lakeville South in the Class 3A semifinals was essentially determined in the first few minutes of the opening set.

Lakeville South’s Jenny Mosser, who had set a state-record with 48 kills in the only meeting of the season between the two teams, went on the attack early. Four times Mosser elevated above the net and delivered the volleyball equivalent of a 95-mile-per-hour fastball. And four consecutive times, Eagan libero Taylor Olstad brought it back.

It was obvious that no record was going to be set in this match Friday at Xcel Energy Center.

“Taylor kind of set the tone,” Eagan coach Kathy Gillen said. “Jenny’s first four hits, she dug her out all four times, straight up. That set the tone of where the defense was at.”

Olstad, who has been a libero for little more than a year, acknowledged that defending Mosser had her on edge at first. “Going into it, I was very, very nervous. But after those first four, my confidence level was brought up. It was a good feeling,” she said.

Mosser finished with just 8 kills in 45 attacks, the first time all season she was held to less than double-figures. Olstad had a match-high 14 digs.
Defending champion Eagan (30-1) was making its fourth consecutive appearance in the semifinals. Lakeville South (28-4) had never gotten this far before. Players on both teams said that experience played a role.

“We’re comfortable in where we are,” said Wildcats leader Brie Orr. “The [Xcel Center] doesn’t make us nervous like it did in my freshman year.”

Mosser agreed, saying, “That experience they had playing in this game was different. It’s a different atmosphere, a different game altogether. They made no mistakes and we didn’t rise to the occasion. They played better than us.”