Stewartville middle hitter Erin Lamb (13) hit the ball past Concordia outside hitter Sydney Pelzer (10) and middle hitter Shaina Zinter (4) in the second set. Photo: ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com
After losing the first two sets to top-seeded Stewartville, Concordia Academy-Roseville grabbed the momentum coming back to win the next two. But the Tigers were not going to let an upset stand.
Stewartville found energy in the deciding set, according to coach John Dzubay, and came away with the five-set victory Friday in a Class 2A semifinal at Xcel Energy Center.
“I just put my entire heart on the court to win that game,” said Erin Lamb, Stewartville junior middle hitter.
The scores were close and the sets seemed even closer than they indicated: 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 23-25, 15-7.
Lamb and Concordia Academy junior outside hitter Kira Fallert, teammates at Northern Lights Volleyball, seemed to match each other kill-for-kill throughout the match. They each had 25 through three sets and each finished with 32 kills.
The scores were close and the sets seemed even closer than they indicated as top-seeded Stewartville defeated No. 5 seed Concordia Academy-Roseville in a five-set thriller, 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 23-25, 15-7, on Friday in a Class 2A semifinal.
Stewartville junior middle hitter Erin Lamb and Concordia Academy junior outside hitter Kira Fallert seemed to match each other kill-for-kill throughout the match. They each had 25 to their name through three sets.
The Tigers (29-4) will play for a chance at their fifth state title and first since 2014.
The Beacons (26-7) lost in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, taking fourth place in 2018.
Check back later for more on the game.