WHS GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL: Trojans fight back to beat Dragons 3-1

ADRIAN -- The Worthington volleyball team defeated the Adrian Dragons 3-1 Tuesday night in Adrian.

The Trojans found themselves in a hole in Game 1 when the Dragons dropped 13-straight points to take a 16-6 lead. But Worthington fought there way back, getting 10 of the next 11 points to cut Adrian's lead to one.

Adrian kept their composure and strung together four points in a row to come within two points of winning the match. However, the Trojans never gave up hope, battling back to tie the game at 24 points a-piece, after scoring seven of the next eight points.

Adrian would get a second shot at closing out the game when the Trojans served the ball into the net. The Dragons tried to take advantage of the misfire, but Worthington tied the game again on the next play.

Worthington would get a game point of their own, but a nice play by the Adrian offense allowed the Dragons to tie the game at 26. Adrian finished out the game with two more points to win 28-26.

"We all just wanted to win in Game 1," Adrian outside-hitter Carly Wolf, who had 16 digs on the night, said. "We gave our all and didn't want to give up." In Game 2, the Trojans jumped out to an 11-0 lead on the back of two aces from Becca Linder, who also had eight blocks in the match. Worthington would not let up the pressure for the rest of the match, only allowing the Dragons to score seven points the whole game. Worthington won the game 25-7.

"When you get stung like we did in Game 1, you don't want to get stung again," Trojans coach Melissa Schutz said. "It makes you want to work harder. The girls did that and they played start to finish that game."

The Trojans came out quick again in Game 3, taking a 4-0 lead before allowing Adrian to score their first point. Worthington went on an eight-point run to take a 10-point lead over the Dragons.

"We kind of let down after the first game," Adrian middle hitter Courtney Vaske (17 digs, 11 kills, five blocks) said. "We seemed to get tired. We knew they were a good team and that they would come back."

Adrian trailed the rest of the match with Worthington leading by as many as 13 points. The Trojans won the match 25-12 to take a 2-1 lead.

"We went out playing with a high intensity," Dragons coach Cheryl Fey said. "In Game 1, we served and passed better. We always had them on the defense in that game."

The Dragons kept it close in the early going of Game 4, but eventually the Trojans offense broke through, going on a three-point run to make it 20-15 and finally distancing themselves from Adrian. Wortington ended the game with two-straight points to take the fourth game 25-17.

"Our team is working really good together right now," Trojans outside-hitter Brooke Henning said. "My hits wouldn't have been on without the good passing and setting from my teammates."

K.C. Riley went 27-for-29 on the serve while picking up 6 aces for the Trojans. Anna Koepsell had 16 digs with Riley right behind her at 13. Paige Gravenhof had 22 setting assists in the game.

"I feel like Brooke [Henning] and Morgan Johnson were both getting quality swings and placing the ball really well tonight," Schutz said. "We still need to work on our pace and continuing to play good quality defense."

The Trojans play Thursday against New Ulm at 7:15 p.m. in Worthington.

Natasha Polzine went 13-for-15 on the serve with three aces in Game 1 for the Dragons, while setter Rachel Kontz had 51 set assists on the night. Kayla Lonneman also had 10 kills and six blocks for Adrian.

"This team is young in regards to the way I coach volleyball," Fey said. "It is just a matter of them getting accustomed to my system and the way I run things. Once we all start cooking and talking the same and moving together, I think everything will fall into place."

The Dragons take on the Cardinals of Luverne Sept. 4 in Adrian at 6 p.m.

Chargers sweep Lincoln H I

WESTBROOK -- Wesbrook-Walnut Grove moved to 2-0 on the season with a 3-0 sweep of Lincoln H I in volleyball action Tuesday.

The Chargers won 25-12, 25-9, 25-8 behind five aces and five kills from Kelsi Wahl, three aces, four digs and 22 assists from Abby Herding, three aces, three digs and seven kills from Dayna Comnick and 13 kills from Paige Erickson.

W-WG will host Southwest Christian Sept. 6.

Cardinals drop H-BC

HILLS -- Taylor Stratton had 10 blocks, seven aces and three kills, Ashley Olson had nine assists and five aces, Paige Baker had five aces, five blocks and three kills, Amanda Barnhart had six kills and Ellen Dahl had 11 digs to lead Luverne's volleyball team over Hills-Beaver Creek 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 Tuesday.

Meghan Leuthold had five kills and one block, Paige Leuthold had 15 assists, Hattie Van Wyhe had nine digs and Taylor Wingert had three aces to lead H-BC in the team's opener.

The Cardinals (1-1) travel to Southwest Christian Thursday.

RRC falls to Wabasso

JEFFERS -- Red Rock Central fell to Wabasso 3-1 in volleyball action Tuesday. After winning 25-21 in Game 1, the Falcons fell 25-19, 25-21, 25-13.

Brooke Rasmussen had 16 digs, Tegan Derickson had 13 assists and 10 digs and Katie Larsen had nine kills to lead RRC in the team's season opener.

RRC will host Springfield Thursday.

H-LP wins Okoboji tourney

OKOBOJI, Iowa -- Harris-Lake Park moved to 4-4 overall on the season, winning the Okoboji Tournament in volleyball action Tuesday.

H-LP knocked off Silver Lake 21-13, 21-17, Okoboji 21-15, 21-16 and Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 21-9, 21-15.

Noreen Morrow led the way with 18 kills and seven blocks, Grace Winters had six aces, Miranda Brueggeman had 17 kills and 14 digs and Macy Gunderson had 42 assists for H-LP.

Ellsworth beats Edgerton 3-2

EDGERTON -- Ellsworth knocked off Edgerton in the team's volleyball opener Tuesday night 3-2.

Edgerton was led by Ciara Everett (10 kills), Sarah Post (six kills), Tara DeKam (eight blocks) and Jessica Menning (12 assists).