Esko Stops Unbeaten Carlton In Volleyball

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sept 17

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

CARLTON – The Esko Eskomos used timely kills, blocks and unforced errors as they would down the previously unbeaten Carlton Bulldogs in girls volleyball action Thursday night at the Carlton High School. Volleyball fans were treated to some outstanding action Thursday in this Polar League battle.

In a near packed gymnasium, the loud and vocal crowd didn’t let the heat inside the school bother them as the fans cheered vocally for their respective teams, which is nice to see that these long standing rivalries are still there. Esko would come back after losing the first game of the match, to take the next three games and came away with the win. The scores were 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, and 25-19.

“It was a hard fought match tonight,” said Barb Soukkala, Head Coach of the Bulldogs. “It was a battle every game, and we just had a few more errors which hurt us.” Soukkala told Northland Sports Online. “We shut down Handevidt fairly well but we let the others hurt us more.” Soukkala added.

Carlton won the first game 25-18 storming back after Esko had taken an early lead of 6-0, a timeout and the Bulldogs would regroup, fight back and eventually take the lead at 14-13 and scrap their way to the seven point win.

Game two was a battle from the start with eight lead changes, the largest lead of the second game for either team being only four points. Esko would break a 19-19 tie and hang on for the hard fought two point win to even the match at 1-1.

Esko jumped out to an early lead in game three at 7-1, but again the feisty Bulldogs continued to battle back cutting into Esko’s lead and taking their own lead at 19-18. It was though short lived as Kayla Handevidt would dominate with several kills down the wire as Esko held on to win their second straight game by two points.

In the fourth game it was Carlton bouncing out to the early lead, but several unforced errors would haunt the Bulldogs as the Eskomos worked their way back into the game. The Eskomos broke a 9-9 tie and then cruised to the six point win that would secure the match 3 games to 1.

Both teams had several standout players in this match, with exciting plays and hustle that made both coaches proud of their teams. Carlton falls to 3-1 on the season and will be in action Friday and Saturday as they play in a sixteen tournament at Bethel University. The Eskomos improve to 6-1 on the season and they will be in action Saturday at North Branch as part of an eight team tournament.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached @ dwight@northlandsportsonline.com