Volleyball: Hayfield seniors step up in playoff win over BP
Published 11:05 pm Thursday, October 29, 2015
Hayfield’s Maggie Streightiff hits against a Blooming Prairie block during a Section 1A West Tournament match Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
HAYFIELD — The Hayfield volleyball team overcame a big push from No. 7 seeded Blooming Prairie as it held on to win in four games in a Section 1A West quarterfinal match in Hayfield Thursday.
Blooming Prairie’s Samantha Wurst hits past the block of Hayfield’s Madison Booms during their Section 1A West Tournament match Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 2 seeded Vikings won 25-17, 25-27, 27-25, 25-18 and they will play No. 3 Medford in Mayo Civic Center in Rochester 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
BP (9-16 overall) seized momentum in the second set when it rallied back from a 10-3 deficit to win. Alyssa Kronberg, who had 12 kills, had a kill to put BP up 25-24 and she added another kill to put her team up 26-25. The third set was a battle and the Vikings finally pulled away when Savanna Cordle made a kill to put her team up 26-26.
“We just had to fight back,” Cordle said. “I think there were a lot nerves and we had to fight them out. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I think we’re ready for Saturday.”
Hayfield had a big lift from its seniors in the match as Cordle had 15 kills and five blocks and senior hitter Katelyn Bjornson had nine kills.
BP made life difficult for Hayfield’s hitters early on as they stepped up with some big blocks, but the Vikings (17-10 overall) were able to adjust.
“I was nervous there for awhile,” Bjornson said. “They picked up tips for awhile and we’re a tipping team. They had big blocks. We just had to have fun instead of taking it so seriously.”
BP received a lift from Sam Wurst, who had eight kills and 13 blocks and Lauren Larkoski had eight kills.
Hayfield’s Savanna Cordle hits against Blooming Prairie in a Section 1A West Tournament match Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I am extremely proud. If we were to go out with a loss, this is the way to do it,” BP head coach Ranell Kittelson said. “Those girls gave it all. I told them not to go out with any regrets and we gave it an awesome fight. It was my first year coaching and I’m going to remember this group forever. They improved amazingly this year.”
Hayfield stats: Savanna Cordle, 15 kills, 5 blocks; Maggie Streightiff, 12 kills, 26 set assists, 8 digs, 4 ace serves; Katelyn Bjornson, 9 kills, 2 blocks; Carrie Rutledge, 9 kills, 2 aces, 7 digs; Alexis, Dudycha, 18 set assists; Madison Booms, 5 kills, 4 blocks
BP stats: Alyssa Krohnberg, 12 kills, 2 blocks; Lauren Larkoski, 8 kills, 16 digs; Sam Wurst, 8 kills, 13 blocks; Marissa Larson, 4 kills, 4 blocks; Abby Wayne, 3 kills, 8 blocks, 27 set assists, 16 digs; Leah Inwards, 30 digs, 2 blocks; Rachel Kubicek, 2 aces; Bria Baldwin, 23 digs
