Left: Alyssa Fenstad Lashinski (13) sent this volleyball over the net with maximum velocity. Above middle: Pig-tail flying, Sophia Eliasen enthusiastically spanked the ball into the Moose Lake court. Top right: Reilly Wahlers made a great play on this low ball while Raina Ryden looked on. Above right: Meredith Sutton polished both kneepads while she dug a spiked shot off the floor.
It was a night of exciting volleyball action on Friday, October 27 as the Pam Taylor coached Cook County Vikings needed excellent team play from everyone to beat a talented Moose Lake / Willow River Rebels team in four games.
UMD-bound senior outside hitter Meredith Sutton once again came up big for her teammates. Meredith posted 26 kills along with 15 digs. The Vikings’ other two seniors, Raina Ryden and Abby Prom, also had great games for the Vikings. Ryden finished with 24 set assists and 19 digs while Prom had 20 set assists and came up big serving the ball, posting five ace serves.
Three Viking juniors, Sophie Eliasen with 19 digs, Reilly Wahlers, with nine kills and 15 digs, and Alyssa Fenstad-Lashinski, seven kills, six solo blocks, and 16 digs, also had huge games.
With the 3-1 victory, (25-10, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22) the Vikings once again return to the Section 7A semifinals where they face Cherry. The Tigers finished third in the Arrowhead Conference with a 4-2 mark and posted a 16-9 record to date.
That match will be played late Wednesday night, November 1 in Hibbing with the winner facing the victor of the Carlton Bulldogs versus the Northwoods Grizzlies game, which was played before the Viking game.
Despite beating Carlton in their only head-to-head matchup earlier this year, and despite winning the conference crown, Carlton was awarded the top seed in the sections with the two-time defending Section 7A Vikings getting the second seed. The Vikings have had to beat Carlton each time to get to the state tournament.
Currently, the Carlton Bulldogs are ranked 14th in the state in Class A field, while the Vikings have finally cracked the top 25 with a 20th place ranking.
Vikings move on to Section 7A finals
On Wednesday, November 1, the Vikings defeated Cherry 25-21, 23-25, 25-12, 25-12 to advance to the Section 7A final where they will once again play the Carlton Bulldogs on Saturday, November 4 to see who will go to State. Meredith Sutton recorded 26 kills for the Vikings, who are now 21-5 for the year.
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