Cook County fell behind 10-1 in the first game against Caledonia in their Class A quarterfinal match at the Xcel Center, and despite making some excellent some runs, were never really in the game against the taller Caledonia Warriors.
The Vikings fell in three games to the No. 3 Class A seed 25-11, 25-13, 25-17 in the match played on Thursday, November 10.
The Vikings made it close for a while in the second game. Trailing 9-5, the Vikings scored five of the next seven points to pull within two, 12-10. Caledonia then went on another long, improbable run and took the Vikings 25-13.
During game three the Vikings trailed 19-10 and pulled the score to 19-15 before the Warriors’ big three hitters Madisyn Heany, Mariah Schroeder and Samantha Schroeder took over, outscoring the Vikings 6 to 2 the rest of the way.
The loss ended the Vikings’ 17-game winning streak.
Meredith Sutton led the Vikings with nine kills and seven digs. Tarin Hanson finished with 13 set assists and six digs, and Raina Ryden ended her night with 11 digs.
Sam Schroeder finished with 11 kills, six digs, and Madisyn Heany had nine kills and 4 set assists to lead their team.
Vikings play in consolation bracket
On Friday the Vikings lined up against Kimball Area in the consolation bracket and, after a slow start in the first game, played a much more competitive match. After losing the first game 25-12, the Vikings stayed with Kimball, losing 25-18 and 25-21. For much of the third game, the Vikings led, but not by much. Emily Jacobsen had a couple of beautiful blocks in the middle, and Meredith Sutton kept the Vikings ahead with several big kills. Still, down 21-19, Kimball rallied to score the next three points. The Vikings rallied for two of their own, but Kimball ended it on their serve, and the Vikings’ state tournament was over.
If there is any consolation for the Vikings, Caledonia lost the state championship in a nail biter five-set match to Mayer Lutheran and the Kimball Area Cubs won their next game to take fifth place.
The Vikings graduate six players off of this year’s team, twins Maranda and Mariah Deschampe, twins Sarah and Hannah Toftey, Tarin Hanson, and Emily Jacobsen. This group has played on the two most successful years in the history of Vikings’ volleyball. Over that time the Vikings’ record is 40 wins and six losses.
Coming back next year are juniors Meredith Sutton, Raina Ryden, an all-conference libero, Abby Prom, a strong right side hitter, Hanna Borson, a scrappy defensive specialist, and sophomores Alyssa Lashinski, a powerful middle hitter, and Reilly Wahlers, a strong setter who is also adept at spiking the ball.
Loading Comments