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Belle Plaine makes quick work of Southwest Christian with road sweep

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 09/18/18, 9:15AM CDT

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Paige Narveson had 31 assists, helping the Tigers make quick work of the Stars.

Senior setter Paige Narveson led Belle Plaine's attack with 31 assists. The Class 2A top-10 matchup finished in three sets with the Tigers on top Tuesday night. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

Senior setter Paige Narveson led Belle Plaine's attack with 31 assists. The Class 2A top-10 matchup finished in three sets with the Tigers on top Tuesday night. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

There wasn’t much time for Belle Plaine to unwind following its four-set loss to New Prague on Monday. Less than 24 hours later, the Tigers faced Southwest Christian, which is ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll.

What was Belle Plaine coach Rich Foust’s plan for that short turnaround? Ice baths.

“I only really do (ice baths) on back-to-backs because the girls don’t like them,” Foust said. “It’s a good way for them recover quickly.”

Mikayla Coops keeps her eye on the ball and comes up with the kill in the third set.  Koops and the rest of the Belle Plaine team took down Southwest Christian in three 25-20 sets. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

Mikayla Coops keeps her eye on the ball and comes up with the kill in the third set. Koops and the rest of the Belle Plaine team took down Southwest Christian in three 25-20 sets. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

Mikayla Coops had 20 kills as Belle Plaine rallied from a loss on Monday to defeat Southwest Christian 25-20, 25-20, 25-20 on Tuesday at Southwest Christian High School.

The Tigers, ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, took control from the start. Belle Plaine’s offense was paced by Coops, a junior right hitter who finished with at least five kills in each of the three sets. She hit her stride by the third set when she had nine kills to help the Tigers finish off the No. 6-2A Stars.

Morgan Kruger, a junior outside hitter, finished with 11 kills. Much of the Tigers’ (3-2, 3-1) offense went through senior setter Paige Narveson who had 31 assists in the match.

The Stars (5-3, 2-1) lost their second consecutive match despite a strong showing from junior right-side hitter Mackenzie Close. She led the way with 17 kills for Southwest Christian, which lost its first-ever Minnesota River Conference volleyball match. This is the Stars’ first season in the conference.

Mackenzie Close (16) connects for the block on Shauna Metz's kill attempt. Close led Southwest Christian with 17 kills in a three-set loss to Belle Plaine. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

Mackenzie Close (16) connects for the block on Shauna Metz's kill attempt. Close led Southwest Christian with 17 kills in a three-set loss to Belle Plaine. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

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