Top: Raina Ryden goes low to bump the ball while Alyssa Lashinski gets set to back her up. Above: Defying gravity, Meredith Sutton gets set to make a kill. Right: Abby Prom (3) had 20 set assists against the Rebels.
OK, Moose Lake/Willow River has the most enthusiastic bench ever! At least the loudest. They cheered every winning point their varsity made like it was the end of V-Day.
Alas, Cook County also had a gym full of fans who cheered for the Vikings, who prevailed three games to none in an exciting match played Thursday, September 14.
Players on both teams hit the floor all night long to make incredible saves on hard-hit balls to keep rallies going. Rebel coach Becky Jackson stood the entire match, urging her team on. Viking coach Pam Taylor exhorted her players from the bench but could be heard throughout the gym calling out instructions. Players on both sides responded, but in the end, the Vikings’ offense got through a stubborn rebel defense enough to take the match 25-21, 25-21, 25-13.
El Nombre (the name) Reilly Wahlers came up quite a bit as she made her second appearance into the Vikings’ line-up, giving it quite a boost from her outside hitting position.
Alyssa Lashinski had an outstanding game, using her jump serve to record six aces. If the Vikings had one downfall in the match, it was that they gave the Rebels too many points on missed serves. But that was about it as the team has shown significant improvement since the season began in bumping and passing the ball to set up plays.
Wahlers ended with 13 digs in the match. Raina Ryden had 12 digs; Abby Prom 20 set assists, 13 digs; Meredith Sutton 14 kills, 11 digs; Alyssa Lashinski nine kills, six ace serves; and Sophie Eliasen, who spent a lot of time diving for balls, had 13 digs.
With the win, the two-time defending Section 7A Vikings’ record is now 3-1.
The Vikings’ next game is Thursday, September 21 at Southbridge. On September 22-23 the team will play in the Midwest Volleyball Tournament, then play at Proctor on September 26, then travel to play Lake View Christian in Cotton on the 28th before coming home to play the Two Harbors Agates on September 28. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. Come out and cheer on your Vikings!
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