The first two sets of Lakeville North’s quarterfinal match with state-tournament first-timer Bemidji were almost like an extension of warm-ups. The defending state champion Panthers won by a combined 50-17 and did not commit an error off of a kill attempt in the second set.

 

Then reality set in. This is the state tournament, after all, and no one is going to receive a cakewalk.

 

Bemidji (24-9) pushed Lakeville North, the No. 2 seed, beyond its limit in the third set, before the Panthers (26-5) escaped with a 29-27 win and a 3-0 match sweep.

 

“It was good for us,” senior outside hitter Kelly Nizzari said. “We went downhill a little and this was a wakeup call. We know we can’t afford to do something like it [in the semifinals]. We need to play smarter. A win is a win, but we know we can play better.”

 

Sophomore Alyssa Goehner finished with 21 kills, four more than the entire Lumberjacks’ roster. Senior Bri Hagen had seven of Lakeville North’s 12 service aces.

 

BRIAN STENSAAS