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Class 3A, Section 6 final: Benilde-St. Margaret's pulls off comeback against Delano

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 11/03/22, 5:00PM CDT

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The Red Knights stormed back in the fourth and fifth sets to beat the Tigers on Thursday.

Lily Eigner delivers one of her 14 kills helping Benilde-St. Margaret's to a five set win over Delano in the Class 3A, Section 6 final at Waconia High School. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Lily Eigner delivers one of her 14 kills helping Benilde-St. Margaret's to a five set win over Delano in the Class 3A, Section 6 final at Waconia High School. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

If you were to look at Benilde-St. Margaret’s 2022 season as a storybook, you’d see plenty of high moments and low moments. However, the book’s most epic chapter came on Thursday at Waconia High School.

Playing in front of a raucous crowd, the Red Knights battled with Delano point-for-point for five sets. Eventually, Benilde-St. Margaret’s came out victorious, 25-27, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10. The win gave the Red Knights the Class 3A, Section 6 championship and the school’s first volleyball state tournament appearance since 1983.

Though Benilde-St. Margaret’s (23-7) took the lone regular-season match against Delano (20-10) in four sets, it was evident early this rematch was going to be closer than that. The teams traded points early and the crowd responded in boisterous fashion, especially on the Tiger side.

Anna Lervick (4) drops the ball in front of Delano players Kate Halvorson (15) and Ella Beeler (6).  Benilde-St. Margaret's advances to next weeks state tournament with a comeback win on Thursday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Anna Lervick (4) drops the ball in front of Delano players Kate Halvorson (15) and Ella Beeler (6). Benilde-St. Margaret's advances to next weeks state tournament with a comeback win on Thursday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

For the first time since the Reagan administration, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s volleyball team is headed to the state tournament.

The second-seeded Red Knights endured an epic five-set battle against fourth-seeded Delano. However, Benilde-St. Margaret’s eked out a 25-27, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10 win for the school’s first state tournament appearance since 1983.

After getting the first four points of the match, it looked as if Benilde-St. Margaret’s (23-7) may have a large advantage over the Tigers. However, Delano fought back. The Tigers and Red Knights eventually went toe-to-toe for points with Delano emerging on top in a 27-25 opening-set win.

In the second set, Benilde-St. Margaret’s once again got ahead. But this time, the lead held up. The hitting attack of Anna Lervick, Lily Eigner, Sierre Lumpkin and Erica Lee were rising high all night. Eigner led the way with 14 kills along with a block.

Delano (20-10) found success in the third set with a similar formula in the first as the Tigers battled back once again. Delano senior Corbyn Menz was doing it all for the Tigers. She finished the match with 20 kills to go along with 3 aces at the service line.

The Red Knights forced a fifth set with a 25-20 win in the fourth set that saw them lead by as many as 10. After falling behind 3-1 early in the fifth, Benilde-St. Margaret’s rolled through the remainder of the fifth set and emerged with a 15-10 win, setting off a raucous celebration.

Delano's Corbyn Menz (13) hits the ball over the arms of Maggie Wozniak (32) and Anna Lervick (4).  Menz delivered 20 kills in the five set match. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Delano's Corbyn Menz (13) hits the ball over the arms of Maggie Wozniak (32) and Anna Lervick (4). Menz delivered 20 kills in the five set match. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

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