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Class 3A: Eagan returns to finals, Prior Lake makes it for first time

By Heather Rule, Special to the Star Tribune, 11/13/15, 12:45PM CST

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The Wildcats defeated Champlin Park in four sets that included numerous ties. The Lakers defeated Roseville in three sets.


Eagan 3, Champlin Park 1


Eagan's McKenna Melville (1) and Peyton Rude (15) go up to block a shot by Champlin Park's Sydney Hilley in the Class 3A volleyball semifinals. Photo: MATT BLEWETT • matt@mattebphoto.com, special to Star Tribune (click on photo to see more)

Matches do not get much tighter than Eagan’s four-set victory Friday that puts the Wildcats in the Class 3A championship match for the third consecutive season.

“My reaction was ‘Phew!’ ” said Eagan coach Kathy Gillen after Eagan’s 27-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-19 semifinal victory over Champlin Park at Xcel Energy Center. “It was a hard-fought battle. We were lucky enough to get the bounces going our way.”

Some important bounces came at the end of the first two sets, giving the Wildcats the slim margin of victory for a 2-0 lead. They saved two set-points apiece for the Rebels in those sets.

The scoreboard showed ties eight times in the first set, 16 times in the second and 10 in the third as both teams went back and forth throughout the match with powerful kills and skillful blocks. If they got behind by a few points, they simply met in the middle of the court for support, “and know that we’re playing as a family, not individually,” sophomore outside hitter McKenna Melville said.

After dropping the third set to the Rebels, they got rolling again to take the match in four sets.

“Let’s finish this now, we don’t want a fifth set,” junior Brie Orr recalled.

Brie Orr led the Wildcats with 16 kills and 32 assists, adding 16 digs. Kennedi Orr and Taylor Olstad each had 23 digs.

The Wildcats are seeking their second state title in three years. They finished second last year. But the team doesn’t get too high or too low, Gillen said.

“Tomorrow’s just another normal day,” she said.

Champlin Park’s Sydney Hilley, the Star Tribune Metro Volleyball Player of the Year, tallied 29 of the Rebels’ 56 kills, 20 digs and 18 assists.

 

FIRST REPORT

Matches do not get much tighter than the 27-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-19 victory for the Wildcats.

The scoreboard was tied eight times in the first set, 16 times in the second and 10 in the third as both teams went back and forth throughout the match with powerful kills and skillful blocks.

The Wildcats fought off two set points apiece for the Rebels in the first two sets to give them the slim margin of victory.

Eagan also reached the finals in 2014, losing to Chaska.

Check back later for more on the match.


Prior Lake 3, Roseville 0


Prior Lake players celebrate a key block in the third set against Roseville. Photo: MATT BLEWETT • matt@mattebphoto.com, special to Star Tribune (click photo to see more)

The Lakers, in their first state tournament appearance, are one victory from a Class 3A state title after defeating the Raiders 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 on Friday at Xcel Energy Center.

“It’s really special,” Lakers coach Mike Dean said. “We’ve got one more to go. They’re hungry, and our community’s hungry.”

The top-seeded Lakers haven’t surrendered a set in the tournament.

The story of the match was the second set. The Raiders took control, grabbing a lead as big as seven points. That vanished as the Lakers, who trailed most of the way, came back with a 7-2 run to win the set.

“It’s all about just staying focused,” said senior Ella Francis, who had 13 kills and six digs. “We really stayed aggressive.”

The Lakers took a timeout and talked about mental focus. Continuing the aggressive play when the game is tight is all about mental toughness, Dean said. From there, their blocking, ball control and attack all improved.

“That was a heckuva comeback,” Dean said. “You realize that every game is winnable, but every game is also very losable.”

With the 2-0 lead rather than tied match, the Lakers coasted in the final set. Keeping the lead was a confidence booster.

“I definitely think we came out more relaxed,” Francis said.

Said middle hitter Maddie Bremer: “We just went out there and played our hardest. It’s hard to explain what that feeling is.” 

For the fourth-seeded Raiders, Alivia Garbe led with 11 kills and was second in digs with 12.

 

FIRST REPORT

The Lakers are one match away from a state title in their first state tournament appearance after a 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 semifinal victory over the Raiders.

The top-seeded Lakers haven’t surrendered a set in their quest for the Class 3A crown.

Roseville took control early in the second set, with a seven-point lead. That vanished as the Lakers came back with 7-2 run to finish off the set and grab a 2-0 lead. The Lakers trailed nearly all set until getting the edge at 24-23.

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