Hermantown Opens Sectional Play With Victory

Oct 28

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

HERMANTOWN – The Hermantown Hawks opened Section 7AA volleyball play with a 3-1 victory over the International Falls Broncos. The #2 seed Hawks will now advance to the section quarterfinals on Friday evening.

The Hermantown Hawks and the Broncos of International Falls battled early in game one with both teams holding the lead at different point of the game. It was Hermantown who pulled away and won the first game 25-16.

Hermantown controlled the second game of the match with some great passing, setting and kills. Samantha Kallberg and Jessica Muehlbauer controlled it with their ability to finish a play, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead with a 25-18 win.

Facing elimination in the third game, the Broncos stepped it up and took the lead at 7-6.
With Sydney Gordon’s several kills, combined with some outstanding back row play by Mackenzie Raboin and Reva Renollet, I. Falls fought to stay in the match. The Broncos took the third game 25-20.

After the Broncos tough fight to win in the third game,
Hermantown came out strong from in the beginnig of the fourth and never looked back. Kallberg and Lydia McMillen controlled the net for the Hawks. Steph Thun had some key kills form Hermantown as they cruised to the 24-16 win and the match in game four.

Hermantown advances to face Virginia, who downed Duluth Marshall 3-0 Tuesday night. Hermantown improves to 23-5 overall on the season, while
International Falls finish their season at 10-15 overall. Quarterfinal action takes place Friday night in Eveleth-Gilbert when the Hawks play the second match of the night. Esko faces Crosby-Ironton in the early match.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com