MARSHALL, Minn. -- No. 1 Lakeville North barreled through its first three opponents, showed some fortitude in winning its fourth match but couldn't overcome Champlin Park in the title game as the Panthers finished second at the 13th annual Southwest Minnesota Challenge.
Lakeville North def. Le Sueur-Handerson, 25-15, 25-14
THE RECAP -- After falling behind early in the match, the Panthers came from behind, on the strength of 12 kills and a .588 hitting percentage by Elizabeth Juhnke, to earn the two-set win.
THE KEY POINT -- Two points helped turned the opening set around for North.
The first came after the Giants jumped out to a 6-2 lead when Maddy Hornyak's killed gave the Panthers service, down three points and Halle Wolfe then served three consecutive point to tie the match.
LSH still didn't give up the lead as it took an 8-7 lead but Macy Winter's kill tied the set at 8-8 before Izzy Fuerst served three points to put the Panthers ahead for good and, after giving up a point, North got service back again and scored four points behind Tori Thompson's serve to take a 16-9 lead.
KEY STATS -- North scored 10 points in the second set with the Giants serving, a sideout percentage of .667. The Panthers also recorded three of their four blocks in the second set and committed just one hitting error with 15 kills, hitting .500 in the set.
Elizabeth Juhnke hit .588 and accounted for 14 points.
Tori Thompson recorded six blocks, including a career-best four solos.
Lakeville North def. Benilde-St. Margaret's 25-14, 25-13
THE RECAP -- The blocking game and a strong second set resulted in the Panthers moving onto the championship bracket as North defeated Benilde-St. Margaret's, 25-14, 25-13.
THE KEY POINT -- It could be argued that the first serve of the match was the key point as the Panthers scored first and did not trail all night.
In the second set, Winter recorded a kill off of the Red Knights' opening serve and, after a brief tie at 2-2, North regained the lead for good.
KEY STATS: A sideout percentage of .714 in the match, including scoring 12 points on 14 BSM serves in the opening set, pushed the Panthers to victory.
Macy winter collected 11 kills while hitting .500 and Tori Thompson had six blocks, including a career-best four solo blocks.
On the back end, North committed just one receiving error with Juhnke and Wolfe successfully passing 20 of 21 serves while record five digs apiece..
Lakeville North def. Prior Lake 25-20, 25-17
THE RECAP -- In a preview of South Suburban Conference play, facing a Prior Lake team it will play in five days, North battled through a tight first set before cruising through the second set.
THE KEY POINTS -- The first set featured seven tie scores and six lead changes before Juhnke recorded a kill to snap a 19-19 tie.
Wherland would then serve consecutive points and, after the Lakers fought off one set point, Juhnke again record a kill to finish off the set.
The second set saw Prior Lake get out to a five-point lead early before a 6-0 run, with Winter serving for five points, to give the Panthers their first lead of the set.
North then took command when Wherland served six consecutive points and a 7-1 run, featuring four Juhnke kills, gave the Panthers a 16-10 lead.
KEY STATS -- Wherland collected 15 assists while recording a .441 setting percentage and added four digs and four service aces.
For the second time this season, Amelia Wherland recorded a team season-high four aces, while also added four digs and 15 assists.
Halle Wolfe had 65 ball touches, record five assists, 11 digs and a service ace.
Lakeville North def. Northfield 26-24, 20-15, 15-11
THE RECAP -- in a rematch of last year's Section 1AAA championship, 10th-ranked Northfield pushed North to its limit before the Panthers advanced to the championship match with a three-set win.
THE KEY POINTS -- The first key point came with the Raiders holding a 23-22 lead in the opening set. The Panthers scored four of the final five points of the set, all coming on kills by Juhnke, to escape the opening set with a win. She also had a solo block, which had tied the score at 22-22.
For Northfield, their key point came when they overcame a 16-15 deficit, using three blocks down the stretch to go on a 10-4 run to send the match to a third set.
In that final set, Winter snapped a 7-7 tie and Wolfe served four consecutive points, three of which came on a kill by Thompson followed by two consecutive solo blocks by the Panthers' middle blocker as North took an 11-7 lead.
KEY STATS -- Northfield used eight total blocks to helped fend off North's hitting attack, but Thompson's back-to-back solo blocks in the third set helped turned the tide for a final time.
Wolfe was busy in the back row as she was as 30 of the Raiders' 61 serves were directed her way. She led North with 11 digs and added five assists.
Juhnke was 12-for-12 in serve receive while hitting .405 with 21 points while accounting for 23.5 points.
Champlin Park def. Lakeville North 25-10, 26-24
THE RECAP -- In a battle of the state's top two ranked teams, second-ranked Champlin Park jumped top-ranked North in the first set and battled from behind in the second to claim the Southwest Minnesota Challenge title.
THE KEY POINTS -- The Rebels were rarely tested in the opening set as they coasted to a 15-point opening-set win but needed to overcome a three-point deficit, stave off a set point and score the final three points of the match.
KEY STATS -- Izzy Ashburn set three points for Champlin Park and was in on the block that accounted for the match's final point as the Rebels scored four of the final points. She finished with 30 assists, a kills and two block assists.
Winter led the way for North by accounting for 10 points with seven kills, two service aces and a solo block.
Macy Winter accounted for 10 points with seven kills, two aces and a solo block.
COMING UP -- The Panthers begin South Suburban Conference play this week with a Tuesday-night match up with rival Lakeville South, Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m. at South High School.
Thursday, for the second time in six days, the Panthers will take on Prior Lake, in another 7 p.m. match, this time on their home court, beginning a three match home stand, which will conclude next Thursday with a rematch versus Champlin Park in a non-conference match.
