WOODBURY, Minn. -- #1 Lakeville North had to overcome a pair of one-set deficit but won the final two sets in convincing fashion, earning a 24-26, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8 win at #9 East Ridge.
The Panthers had a chance to put the opening set away when Elizabeth Juhnke served for the set at 24-23, however, the Raptors staved off the set point, winning the final three points for a 26-24 win.
The second set, much like the first, was a back-and-forth affair but differed in that the Panthers took a 12-11 lead on an East Ridge service error and took a 16-13 lead when Maddy Hornyak stepped to the service line.
The first-year Panther served five consecutive points for a 21-13 lead and the teams traded the next eight points as North tied the match at a set apiece.
Although the third set was a two-point affair, the Raptors took the lead for good early at 8-7. The would lead by as many as six points on four occasions, the last time at 18-12, before the Panthers mounted a comeback but the 11-7 advantage down the stretch was too little, too late and the hosts were one set away from upsetting the state's top-ranked team.
Maddy Hornyak had nine kills without an error and served for 16 points.
Abbey Milner had career highs with two solo, three assist and five total blocks.
After trailing 5-1 early in the fourth set, North began to show why they were the defending state champions, coming back to take an 8-7 lead.
The comeback was a team effort with Juhnke, Macy Winter and Tori Thompson each recording four kills in the set while Abbey Milner had two solo blocks and two block assists.
They also recorded 30 digs in the set with Halle Wolfe leading the way with 11 of her match-high 31 digs.
The final set saw East Ridge scored first and North did not lead until a Juhnke kill gave the Panthers a 7-6 lead and a 9-2 stretch put the match away, extending North's winning streak to 18 matches dating back to last season.
Thompson helped lead the way as she recorded a career-high eight blocks and tied a career high with 12 kills.
Honyak, who added two blocks, recorded nine kills without an error while Winter and Juhnke each had 20 kills.
Halle Wolfe had 31 digs and received 28 serves with a reception error.
Six players recorded blocks with the team's two middle blockers setting career highs. In addition to Thompson, Abbey Milner added five blocks as the duo combined for nine total blocks. Juhnke added four more.
Wolfe was a stalwart in the back row, not only recording 31 digs, but she also received 28 serves without an error.
Amelia Wherland also had a career high with 52 assists while recording 150 set attempts, more than double her previous best of 71.
The 3-0 Panthers will now have seven days off until returning to action at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge in Marshall, Minn. North opens play with a 5 p.m. match versus Le Sueur-Handerson next Friday, followed by a 7:30 second-round match. They will then play three times on Saturday.
