PREP VOLLEYBALL: Cardinals defeat Raiders

LUVERNE — The Luverne Cardinals were able to hold off the Fulda Raiders in a five set victory Thursday with the help of eight kills and 21 blocks by Nicole Hoff.

The Raiders were able to jump out to a quick one game lead after taking down the Cardinals 25-12 in the first set. However, Luverne fought back and took the second game 25-16 to even the match at one set a piece.

The Cardinals were victories once again in Game 3, with a 25-19 win over the Raiders. But Fulda wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. The Raiders marched back and took the fourth game 27-25 to once again tie up the match.

Game 5 went back and forth, but in the end the Cardinals pulled out the win to take the match 3-2.

Hoff was not alone in her dominance at the net as teammate Amanda Barnhart picked up another six blocks for the Cardinals. Barnhart was also 15 for 16 serving with three aces.

Lexi Rust was second on the team with seven kills to go along with her 18 digs. Erica DeBoer also had 18 digs, while Ellen Dahl picked up 17 digs for Luverne.

Dani Hermeling led the Raiders with 27 set assists and added 11 digs on the night. Brittney Hermeling had five kills, while going 17 for 21 on the serve with seven aces.

Fulda took the eleventh seed in the Section 3A tournament and heads to Slayton to play the sixth seeded Murray County Central Rebels Monday.

T-M-B 3, PA 2

PIPESTONE — Taylor Kruisselbrink had 15 kills for the Pipestone Area Arrows in a five set loss to the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers Thursday.

The Arrows jumped out to an early two game lead, winning 26-24 and 25-23 in Games 1 and 2, but lost the next three 25-23, 25-19 and 15-4.

Brittany Evans had 12 kills for the Arrows and was also 17 for 19 on the serve with three aces. Nicole Hollingsworth had 11 kills and Amanda Haupert had 32 digs on the night.

Kelly Nettik added 17 digs of her own and also had 25 set assists. Casey Evans was 17 for 17 on the serve with two aces and picked up 23 digs.

Sara Stoneberg led the Panthers in kills with 12 and also picked up a block, while Kassidy Przymus had 10 kills. Gabbie Gervais added nine kills and a block to go along with 34 set assists by Cassandra Hook. Kelli Soupir had 13 digs and Anna Peterson led the team with 16 digs.

PA hosts Fairmont in the first round of the Section 3AA playoffs Friday.

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton has a bye in the first round of the Section 3A tournament and will host the winner of the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton/Edgerton game that takes place Monday.

Minneota 3, Windom 0

MINNEOTA — Kelsey Hanefeld was a perfect 12 for 12 on the serve with two aces in the Windom Eagles loss to Minneota Thursday.

Minneota won 25-12, 25-18 and 25-21 to sweep the Eagles.

Michaela Hacker led the team in blocks with five, while Holly Larson picked up a team leading 14 kills for the Eagles.

Hali Tasler added seven kills and 10 digs to go along with 14 set assists by Shelby Mattson. Jasmine Carlson led the team in digs with 16.

The Eagles play their last game of the season Monday against Blue Earth Area in Windom. Then the No. 2 seeded Eagles will host the No. 7 Luverne Cardinals Friday in the first round of the Section 3AA playoffs.

JCC 3, New Richland 0

JACKSON — Michelle VanEpps led the Jackson County Central Huskies to a sweep of New Richland Thursday with 33 set assists, four kills, seven digs, an ace and a block.

The Huskies won 25-17, 25-19 and 25-16.

Kathryn Nasby led JCC with eight digs and was a perfect 13 for 13 on the serve. Lydia Brandt had 12 kills and four aces, while Jasmine Erickson lead the team in aces with four and blocks with three.

The Huskies took the top seed in the Section 3AA southern division and will host New Ulm Friday.

Rachel Cheadle led the team in kills with 14 and Amanda Schumacher added 18 digs to lead the Raiders. Randi Tiesler was 15 for 17 on the serve with five aces.

Luverne received the seventh seed in the Section 3AA playoffs and will face the two seed Windom Area Eagles Friday in Windom.

Tags: jackson country central, sports, prep, volleyball, fulda, luverne, pipestone, windom