Above: Vikings’ Libero Raina Ryden takes the “bump” out of goosebumps, something the Viking fans have been having lately as the team makes a second straight march for a Section 7A championship. Right: With Reilly Wahlers looking on Emily Jacobsen goes skyward in preparation for spiking the ball.
Alyssa Lashinski scored the first point on a spike, and Emily Jacobsen scored the last point on a spike as the Vikings swept the Silver Bay Mariners in three straight games 25-13, 25-18, and 25-16 to move on to the semi-finals in the Section 7A playoffs.
The game was played Friday night, October 28, in the Cook County High School gym in front of a packed house filled with (mostly) Viking fans.
With the win, the Vikings’ record is now 17-2.
Give credit to the Mariners, they came to compete, fighting for every ball and keeping some plays going for long rallies. But in the end, when the Mariners would get close, the Vikings started setting plays to Junior outside hitter Meredith Sutton, and the Vikings big hitter came through with monster spikes time and time again to bring the momentum back to the Vikings.
The play was interrupted briefly in the second game when Vikings’ head coach Pam Taylor was asked to talk to some young Vikings’ fans who were being a bit too unruly to the Mariners. Short of that stoppage, the game was played without incident.
Following that break, the Mariners brought the score to within two points, and the Vikings held a scant 20-18 lead. Momentum seemed to be going the Mariners way. Then along came Raina Ryden at the serving line. Ryden changed the complexion of the game by pounding home six straight serves that were all but unreturnable, and the Vikings won 25-18.
Alyssa Lashinski, a jump server, also came up big on the serving line, ending with seven serving aces on the night. Alyssa also finished with 13 digs.
Sutton ended with 18 kills and 13 digs; Tarin Hanson had 33 set assists and Raina Ryden 15 digs.
Kayla Klofstad led Silver Bay with nine kill seven digs; Brook McMillan ended with five kills and 12 digs, and Cora Carter had five kills.
Next up, the Vikings traveled to Virginia on Wednesday to play North Woods.
Vikings move on to Section 7A championship game
The Vikings were in three close games against North Woods on Wednesday, November 2, but when the dust settled, the Vikings swept the Grizzlies 25-16, 27-25, 25-20 to advance to the Section 7 championship game against Deer River who upset Carlton in an exciting match.
The games were played on the Iron Range in Virginia.
The number 4 ranked team from Deer River beat the number 2 ranked Carlton Bulldogs 18-25, 27-25, 25-17, 12-25 and finally won the fifth and deciding game 15-8.
As defending Section 7A champions, the Vikings will get to defend their crown against Deer River on Saturday, November 5 at 4 p.m. in Virginia to see who will go to state. Go Vikings!
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