After a long first point to open the match, Southwest Christian setter Katie Lubben thought it would be a long afternoon. For at least at set, she was right.

The Stars outlasted Underwood 25-20 to win the opener at Xcel Energy Center, but they wouldn’t be challenged much the rest of the way in a straight sets victory, 25-20, 25-11, 25-17 in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament.

“They were definitely down,” Lubben said about Underwood after its close first set loss. “They kind of let up in the second set halfway through, and we were really consistent.”

Lubben led the Stars with 44 assists, MacKenzie Horkey had 22 kills, 14 digs and Abby Vandergalien 14 kills, 12 digs. Carly Masloski led Underwood with 14 kills and six digs.

JASON GONZALEZ