Quantcast
skip navigation

Class 2A: Defending champ Marshall to take on top seed Stewartville

By HANK LONG, Special to the Star Tribune, 11/07/14, 11:15PM CST

Share


Stewartville's Marissa Behrens spikes the ball past Maple Lake defenders for a point in the second set of the Class 2A semifinal Friday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo: Matthew Hintz, special to the Star Tribune

Stewartville cruises into finals

The top-seeded Tigers (29-6) never trailed against Maple Lake and cruised to a 25-13, 25-12, 25-15 victory. Stewartville has not lost a set in the first two rounds.

Senior outside hitter Marissa Behrens led Stewartville with 11 kills in the victory over the Irish (28-6).

“For Marissa and our other seniors, they know every match at this stage could be their last time on the court,” coach John Dzubay said. “And it’s just so great to see them play their best this time of year.”

The Tigers understand they have to save their best for last in the championship, Dzubay said.

“It’s nice to have that top seed because we knew we wouldn’t have to face either Marshall or Belle Plaine until at least the final,'' he said. "They are both awesome teams.But I know our girls will be ready.”

HANK LONG



Marshall's Morgan Saugstad uses her fist to knock the ball past Belle Plaine's Danielle Taylor (left) and Kaylee Hentges in the second set of the Class 2A semifinal Friday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo: Matthew Hintz, special to the Star Tribune

Marshall survives back-and-forth battle with Belle Plaine

hree-time defending Class 2A champion Marshall and Belle Plaine battled back and forth through five sets Friday at Xcel Energy Center, with neither side giving ground.

“There’s not many times you get in the state tournament and play a fifth set,” said Marshall head coach Dan Westby after his team’s 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11 victory. “And when you do you really need to show some grit and determination, and I thought our kids did that all the way to the end.”

The battle ensued from the opening set and featured several lead changes in each set. Senior middle hitter Callie Graff clinched the first set for Marshall (25-9) with a powerful jump spike. Graff led her team with 28 kills in the match.

“Everybody just found another level tonight and stepped up in every facet of the game,” Graff said.

Belle Plaine (23-11) powered its frontcourt attack with the help of outside hitter Mariena Hayden and claimed the second set. The sophomore recorded 37 kills in the match, many of which proved to be emotionally lifting for her teammates at crucial moments.

“(Hayden) is a great player, and it’s tough to stop somebody with that kind of ability,” Westby said. “We just told our kids, we don’t care if she hits 100 — as long as we win.”

Marshall refused to let Belle Plaine build on any of its leads early in the third set before taking it 25-19. Then Belle Plaine stormed back and won an electrifying fourth set to even the match at 2-2.

In an intense final set, neither team let the other capture anything close to a safe lead until Marshall scored the final two points.

HANK LONG

Most Popular