PREP VOLLEYBALL: Falcons defeat Panthers

JEFFERS — The Red Rock Central Falcons took down the Ellsworth Panthers in the first round of the Section 3A volleyball playoffs Monday with the help of 10 kills, 13 digs and an ace by Chole Arfsten.

Ellsworth took the first set 25-23, but RRC came right back and claimed a 25-12 win in Game 2. The Panthers took Game 3 25-19, but then the Falcons evened the match at two apiece with a 25-20 win in Game 4. In the end, RRC was victorious after winning Game 5 15-12.

Brooke Rasmussen led the Falcons in digs with 21, while going 17 for 18 on the serve. Cassandra Erickson had 17 digs and 10 kills to go along with Katie Larsen’s team leading 13 kills.

Fern Engen picked up nine kills as well as a block and Tegan Derickson added 17 set assists. Mikaela Smith led the team in set assists with 21.

Paige Meester had four kills for the Panthers, while teammate Bridget Kramer added 11 digs and 11 set assists. Kadie Werner had 10 digs to go along with another 11 digs by Emily Chapa.

Danielle DeBeer had nine set assists and Alexa Huisman led the team in digs with 18, four blocks and 10 kills.

With the win, the Falcons move on to play Friday against the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers at 6 p.m. in Luverne.

MCC 3, Fulda 0

SLAYTON — Kristi Bose and Lindsey Barritt both had eight kills in the Murray County Central Rebels’ three game sweep of the Fulda Raiders in the first round of the Section 3A volleyball playoffs Monday.

MCC won 25-13, 25-9 and 25-15 to move on to the next round Friday in Luverne.

Hannah Schmidt had 11 digs and four aces for the Rebels, while Jade Giese picked up six kills, 10 set assists and four digs. Ashley Clarke had three digs and shared the team lead in blocks (2) with Bose. Taylor Shreier had two kills, four aces and five digs to go along with six digs and two kills by Macy Halbur.

Fulda was led by Dani Hermeling who was 42 for 45 on the serve with five set assists, while Rachel Cheadle had nine kills. Brittney Hermeling had four kills to go along with seven digs and Alli Vanden Bosch added a block.

MCC will move on to play the Southwestern United Wildcats Friday at 7:15 p.m. in Luverne.

MLA 3, JWP 0

MOUNTAIN LAKE — Janessa Peters had a team high eight kills in the Mountain Lake Area Wolverines’ three game sweep of Janesville-Waldort Pemberton Monday in the first round of the Section 2A volleyball tournament.

MLA won 25-12, 26-24 and 25-19.

Rachel Dukes was 11 for 12 on the serve with three aces, 18 set assists and seven digs for the Wolverines. Paige Brown, Jordan Syverson and Maggie Wahdan all had five kills on the night. Mikayla Falk had nine digs and Carmen Syverson was 12 for 14 on the serve for three aces.

MLA moves on to the second round to face Martin County West Thursday in Trimont.

Windom 3, Blue Earth 0

WINDOM — Holly Larson picked up 10 kills and two blocks for the Windom Eagles in a three game sweep of Blue Earth Area Monday.

Windom won all three games by a score of 25-13.

Shelby Mattson was 16 for 17 on the serve with an ace, 18 set assists and six kills for the Eagles. Kelsey Hanefeld was 11 for 11 on the serve with three aces and 10 digs, while Hali Tasler added seven kills. Angela Patterson had seven set assists and Jasmine Carlson led the team with 20 digs.

Windom opens the Section 3AA volleyball playoffs with hosting New Ulm Friday at 7 p.m.

Tags: red rock central, murray county central, mountain lake, sports, prep, volleyball, ellsworth, fulda, windom