State Volleyball Wraps up Season

Dwight Cadwell – NSO

Photos By: Mark Nashtel

Three teams were crowned state volleyball champions Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center, with only one of the top seeds managing to capture the top spot in the three respective classes.

In Class single A it was Waterville-Elysian-Morristown taking home the top spot in a five set thriller over Bethlehem Academy 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 15-13.

The Buccaneers making their first state appearance were seeded third in the Class A tournament as the bested the top seeded Cardinals who were making their 12th state appearance.

The State Class AA top seed Belle Plaine Tigers were the only tournament top seed to finish first in any Class. The Tigers rolled through the tournament losing only one set then entire weekend in the state semi finals against Stewartville.

Mariena Hayden led the the Tigers with 19 kills in the final match with the three set sweep over Concordia Academy-Roseville, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20.

The Eagan Wildcats picked up their sixth state title Saturday, the last was in 2013 with a 3-2 win over the top seed Prior Lake 25-17, 25-23, 15-25, 16-25, 15-13.

Prior Lake had started fast in the final set but the Wildcats came back and tied the match at 7-7, and while the lead woudl change hands several more times and with the teams tied at 13-13 two kills by Danielle Sorenson, and the match winner by Hannah Hegwer gave Eagan the title.

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