In a matchup of the last two Class 2A state champions, top-seeded Marshall did its best to take the drama out of Friday’s semifinal match with defending champion Wadena-Deer Creek at Xcel Energy Center.

The Tigers, who won the 2009 title, dispatched the Wolverines in four sets, 25-18, 23-35, 25-13 and 25-13, advancing to Saturday’s championship match.

“It feels good,” Marshall head coach Dan Westby said . “This group is young, there’s only two seniors, but you’d never know it watching it.”

The defending champs didn’t go down easily, though. Despite struggling early on, Wadena Deer Creek took advantage of junior Emily Miron’s big hitting to take a back-and-forth second set.

“We didn’t have an answer for (Miron) for a while,” Westby said. “She’s quite a player.”

Miron finished with a match-high 25 kills, and her play was a big reason Marshall lost its first set since Oct. 8.

“We weren’t going to let that happen again,” Marshall sophomore Kenzie Beekman said.

Marshall used its efficient offense to take control of the match. Hitters Beekman and Morgan McKitrrick leading the Tigers with 24 and 19 kills, respectively.