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Champlin Park cruises past Blaine

By Jim Paulsen, 09/23/16, 12:45PM CDT

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Efficient Rebels improve to 12-1


Sydney Hilley

To say Champlin Park is playing well right now is a bit like saying Minnesota is a little chilly in the winter.

The No. 3, 3A Rebels dismantled a very good opponent Thursday night, rolling over No. 10, 3A Blaine 25-9, 25-8, 25-18. It was such an overwhelming victory that Blaine coach Celeste Gorman stood at mid-court after the match, knowing there was little she and her Bengals could have done to slow down the Champlin Park freight train.

“Our girls have great insight and they were talking in our huddle, saying they hadn’t seen a team as good, a team as efficent, a team as clean [as Champlin Park],” Gorman said. “Now we know where we need to be.”

Since losing to Lakeville North in the Marshall Tournament on Sept. 10, Champlin Park (12-1) has reeled off six victories in a row without losing a set. In fact, the Rebels have only dropped three sets all season.

“We’re obviously in a really good spot right now,” Champlin Park coach John Yunker said. “We really focus on what’s happening on our side of the net, taking care of the ball and getting after it.”

Sydney Hilley, the Rebels’ virtuouso setter/outside hitter, gets much of the attention and accolades and deservedly so. Moved from her normal role as setter – the position she’ll play at Wisconsin next year – to a full-time role as a hitter has allowed the Rebels to take advantage of her skill set. She had 17 kills Thursday, many of them attacking from the back row, and hit at an impressive .533 clip.

“Teams worry about Sydney and that opens things up for other players,” Yunker said.

Hilley’s position change has allowed sophomore setter Izzy Ashburn a chance to show her skills. She responded Thursday with 30 assists, conducting the Rebels’ offense with precision.

“I like hitting a lot,” Hilley admitted. “I get to be aggressive, but I do miss setting a little bit. Hitting helps my setting. I know what hitters want and that will help me in college. This is really beneficial to me.”

With her team playing as well as it is right now, however, Hilley is fine doing anything the team asks her to do.

“I think we have a higher ceiling, but I do think this is some of the best volleyball we’ve ever played,” she said.