Hermantown Avenges Loss Captures Esko Tournament Title

Wes Vork-NSO

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Oct 13, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

ESKO- When Hermantown entered the volleyball season the players and coaches knew they had a special team. After Saturday more and more people are stepping up and saying wow, this Hermantown team is impressive. The Hawks went through pool play unbeaten Saturday to advance to the championship match against Greenway and the Hawks avenged one of their two losses on the season as they take home first place in the Esko Volleyball Classic.

The Hawks opened pool play with two straight wins over Superior as both games finished up 25-13. Hermantown then went on to beat Moose Lake-Willow River 25-9 and 25-7. The Hawks closed out pool play with a victory over Warroad by scores of 25-18 and 34-32 to set up a championship battle with Greenway. Green advanced to the championship match with wins over Esko (25-21, 25-19), Cloquet (19-25, 25-20, 15-5), and International Falls (25-12, 25-23).

The championship match saw the Hawks and the Raiders go at it back and forth with neither team building having the ability to build a big lead. Hermantown built a 10-8 lead in the first game of the match, Greenway responded right back going on a 7-5 run as the Raiders and the Hawks were tied at 15-15. The Raiders then rattled off five straight points to take a 20-15 lead and traded points as the match ended with a four point Greenway win.

Hermantown was not done in nor intimidated by the Raiders when they took the court in the second game. A look of confidence was on their face as the Hawks took control early and went ahead 2-1 and never trailed or were tied for the rest of the contest. The Hawks put the match away midway through the contest when Katie Thun took the Hawks from a 16-10 lead all the way to 23-10 lead as she served seven straight points to help the Hawks closed out the match and evened the match at one game apiece.

The third set saw the Hawks with all the momentum which they put to good use early. Hermantown came out and went ahead 7-0 as Jessica Wasbotten served the first seven points and the Hawks never looked back as they rolled to the win and the title Saturday afternoon in Esko. Stephanie Kallberg and Katie Thun did a great job with timely kills and it was truly a team effort which propelled the Hawks to the Championship.

In the third place battle Saturday it was the host Eskomos coming from behind Saturday afternoon to knock off Warroad to take the third place trophy. Warroad won the first game of the match but Esko bounced back to win the final two games and third place. All three contests were back and forth tight battles.

International Falls defeated Superior 25-19 and 25-12 to capture 5th place and the Cloquet Lumberjacks won two games over Moose Lake-Willow River to finish in seventh place on the afternoon.

Hermantown moves to 23-2 overall on the season with the four wins at Esko, Greenway leaves the Esko tournament with a record of 20-6. Esko improves to 17-8, Warroad moves to 11-13. International Falls record went to 11-11, while Superior goes to 10-15 on the season. Cloquet is now 13-12 and Moose Lake Willow River is 7-18 on the season

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com