HAYFIELD — The Vikings set the tone early with some tough front line blocking and solid back row play in the first game of a three-game sweep over Blooming Prairie in the second round of the Section 1A West Division volleyball tournament Thursday.

“We always try to concentrate (on defense and blocking),” Hayfield setter Molly Streightiff, who had 17 assists, 6 kills, and 12 digs, said. “Because that sets up everything else that we do.”

The No. 3 seeded Vikings (16-11 overall) ended up winning by scores of 25-17, 25-13, 25-23.

Hayfield set the tone early in game one when the Vikings blocked two BP attempts on the same volley and freshman Wagner finished it 12-4 with a block kill.

“We had a heck of a time getting the ball past their blocks,” BP head coach Gina McLaughlin said. “That’s the best I’ve seen them block (out of three matches against Hayfield) and to their credit they were really big out there.”

No. 6 seeded BP (11-18 overall) got as close as 15-14 in the first game, but Jaide Ryks served four straight points to make it 20-14 and Abby Blanchard slammed home back-to-back kills to make it 24-17.

Hayfield jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second game, but BP crept back to within 11-10 after Janelle Morem had two straight kills.

The Blossoms led 8-6 early in the last game and they scored two straight points to make it 24-23 before the Vikings put it away.

“They’ve got a lot of nice hitters and we knew they were going to be a handful,” Hayfield head coach Deb Harvey said of BP. “Their middles were tough and blocking against hitters like that is not our strength, but we did a good job.”

Hayfield closed out the last game by getting back to communicating with each other.

“As long as we kept talking, we did well. When we stopped talking they came back,” Abby Blanchard, who had led Hayfield with 14 kills, said. “It shouldn’t have been as tough as it was, but we came through in the end.”

Hayfield will now take on No. 3 seeded Kenyon/Wanamingo (15-12 overall) Saturday at Mayo Civic Center at 1:30 p.m. K/W beat Hayfield in the first match of the season in five games, with the fifth game being 17-15.

“I think we have a good chance and I’m excited to play them again, because we didn’t play our best last time,” Abby Blanchard said.

As for BP, McLaughlin was pleased with how her seniors came to play in their final match.

“The amount of growth they have covered this season has been immense,” she said. “There were times were Marissa (Noble) stepped out and took charge. The first time we played Hayfield Sept. 11 she wasn’t that domineering.”

Hayfield stats: Alyssa Selk, 14 digs, 1 ace; Dani Wagner, 4 kills, 2 blocks; Rachel Czaplewski, 16 assists; Liz Ristau, 11 kills; Molly Streightiff, 17 assists, 6 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace, 12 digs; Abby Blanchard, 1 ace, 14 kills, 13 digs; Katie Miner, 8 kills, 5 digs; Jaide Ryks, 15 digs, 1 ace; Emily Blanchard, 1 kill, 6 digs, 2 blocks; Hannah Wiltgen 2 aces

BP stats: Marissa Noble, 3 digs, 1 kill, 28 assists; Whitney Burt, 25 digs, 2 blocks, 13 kills; Kristin Hagen, 18 digs, 1 block, 7 kills; Yasmine Smith, 17 digs, 6 kills; Janelle Morem, 13 digs, 1 block, 4 kills; Rachel Klemmensen, 5 digs; Kierstin Wencl, 3 digs, 2 assists; Allyson Grunklee, 1 block