• EAGLE INVITATIONAL: Blaine entered the talent-rich 16-team Apple Valley tournament as the sixth-ranked squad in Class 3A, but without a real signature victory. In the span of about four hours, the Bengals picked up a pair.

The team knocked off No. 1-ranked Lakeville North 27-25, 28-26 in the semifinals, then channeled that momentum to defeat No. 2 Bloomington Jefferson 25-15, 25-18 for the championship.

"It shows what the girls on this team are capable of," Bengals coach Celeste Gorman said. "There isn't anything that can get in the way."

The Bengals scored the final six points of the first game and the first six points of the second against the Jaguars to set the tone in the championships match. Sophomore middle blocker Lydia Dimke notched three of her five service aces in that six-point run to open the second game.

She was also huge at the net and put the capper on the match with a dump-kill over Jefferson's front line.

"We were definitely underdogs coming into this tournament," Dimke said. "I think we really made a statement for ourselves."

BRIAN STENSAAS