The Austin volleyball tuned up for a big showdown with the former team, Faribault, of first-year head coach Andrea Becker.

Wednesday, September 22, 1999

The Austin volleyball tuned up for a big showdown with the former team, Faribault, of first-year head coach Andrea Becker. Tuesday they traveled a little further north than Faribault with a trip to Northfield. The Packers came home with a three-game sweep of the Raiders, 15-7, 16-14, 15-5.

"We played real well overall," Becker said of the match. "We played together as a team and got good communication. Erin Coleman and Andrea Lindgren did a really great job all-around on offense and defense."

The team did a great job of serving with Lindgren serving at a 100 percent pace and Coleman with only one error.

Also stepping up their games were Kelly Grimley in the setting department and Lauren Feller having a standout game on defense.

Austin (7-6, 1-1) heads up the same road to Faribault on Thursday.

"We are pumped for Faribault," Becker said. "It will be a big game and a nice challenge.

Blooming Prairie 3, Bethlehem Academy 0

For the first time in a long time the Awesome Blossoms volleyball team came home victors after a trip to Faribault. In a face off for first place in the Gopher Conference the Blossoms swept the Cardinals 15-12, 15-13, 15-8. Both teams came into the tilt with 5-0 marks in the Gopher.

"It was a great match, Blooming Prairie coach Mary Worke said. "We haven’t beaten Bethlehem Academy in a long time."

Things started slowly for the Blossoms as they fell behind 7-2 in the first game of the contest.

"We kept plugging away," Worke said. "We pulled the game out with some smart net play."

The second game was another nip-and-tuck battle and it looked like game three would be the same. With the score 8-7 in BA’s favor, Blooming Prairie’s Jana Peterson took her second turn at serve in the game. The Blossoms proceeded to win seven straight points to get to game point with Peterson stroking three ace serves.

Peterson also had 11 kills in the win. Ranell Goette smacked home eight kills and had six ace blocks and nine digs. Janelle Iacovino like Peterson stroked in three ace serves. Sara Anderson had 32 set assists. Finally Missy Avery came through with nine digs.

Thursday the Blossoms (13-3, 6-0) travel to Glenville-Emmons.

Hayfield 3, Winona Cotter 0

The Vikings got back on the winning track in the Hiawatha Valley League after their trip to Stewartville last Thursday. The Vikings beat the Ramblers 15-9, 15-1, 15-9 in Hayfield. The Vikings improved to 10-1 on the season.

"Jana Wohlers had a good night for us," Hayfield coach Deb Harvey said. "She was a perfect 17-for-17 serving with four aces. She also had nine set assists."

Sheri Swanson was the kills leader for the Vikings with seven. She also had two ace blocks. Nikki Kindschy had four kills, dug out seven balls and smashed three ace serves.

The Vikings (10-1, 3-1) travel to Rochester on Thursday to take on the Lourdes Eagles.