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Shakopee holds off late rally to overcome rival Eagan in five sets

By Sarah Johnson, SportsEngine, 10/14/20, 11:45AM CDT

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The Wildcats, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the match at 2 apiece. The No. 7-3A Sabers, however, showed poise and won the deciding set.

Shakopee's Ary Forsberg (10) and Maddie Meyer (12) team up at the net for a block in the first set. The Sabers took down the Wildcats in five sets on Wednesday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Shakopee's Ary Forsberg (10) and Maddie Meyer (12) team up at the net for a block in the first set. The Sabers took down the Wildcats in five sets on Wednesday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Ary Forsberg (10) sends the fall flying past Abby Moe (6). Forsberg helped lead Shakopee to a five-set win over Eagan for the first time since 2015. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Ary Forsberg (10) sends the fall flying past Abby Moe (6). Forsberg helped lead Shakopee to a five-set win over Eagan for the first time since 2015. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

How competitive is the South Suburban Conference? The University of Minnesota currently features three players from the league’s pool of former volleyball talent — including one from each of Eagan (Ellie Husemann) and Shakopee (Rachel Kilkelly).

The immense ability of the South Suburban was on full display at Shakopee High School on Wednesday night, where the Sabers, ranked No. 7 in the Class 3A coaches’ preseason poll, defeated the No. 1-3A Wildcats 25-18, 28-26, 25-27, 11-25, 15-7.

Shakopee started the evening playing impressive team defense, including digs by multiple players, and blocks by senior co-captain and middle hitter Aryana Forsberg.

“It was a balanced team effort,” said Forsberg. “We came into the game with the mentality of ‘they may be the No. 1 team in the state but No. 1 teams lose.’”

First Report

Shakopee outlasted South Suburban Conference rival Eagan 25-18, 28-26, 25-27, 11-25, 15-7 on Wednesday night at Shakopee High School.

The Sabers, ranked No. 7 in the Class 3A coaches’ poll, used impressive team defense to hold off a rally from the No. 1-3A Wildcats, who concluded last year’s Class 3A state tournament with a runner-up finish, after being up 2-0 before Eagan stormed back into the game.

The Sabers (2-0, 0-0) and Wildcats (1-1, 0-0) each produced multiple ties and lead changes in the second, third and fifth sets.

The foes are slated to meet again on Nov. 4 at Eagan.

Eagan's Sienna Ifill (9) makes a block in the second set. The Wildcats staged a comeback after losing the first two sets but faltered in the fifth set to lose the match. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Eagan's Sienna Ifill (9) makes a block in the second set. The Wildcats staged a comeback after losing the first two sets but faltered in the fifth set to lose the match. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

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