Superlarks battle for a fifth game, but fall short in tournament opener
Published 10:16 pm Thursday, October 28, 2021
Grand Meadow’s Isabelle Fetty tosses candy to the fans during the announcement of line-ups Thursday night during a Section 1A first-round match between the Superlarks and Rushford-Peterson in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Kendyl Queensland punches the ball over the block of Rushford-Peterson’s Kaylee Ruberg, left, and Tayler Helgemoe during a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Anna Oehlke attacks in game two against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Kendyl Queensland spikes against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Sydney Cotten receives a serve against Rushford-Peterson in game one of a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s River Landers attacks against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Sydney Cotten passes the ball against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Emma Grafe tips at the net against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Emma Grafe spikes against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Kendyl Queensland sets against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Anna Oehlke looks the ball in in game one against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Members of the Grand Meadow student body fan section celebrate a point by the Superlarks in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Grand Meadow’s Lauren Queensland spikes against Rushford-Peterson in a first-round Section 1A match Thursday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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GRAND MEADOW – The No. 8 seeded Grand Meadow volleyball team couldn’t cash in on a big-time performance in game four as it lost to No. 9 seeded Rushford-Peterson by scores 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 12-25, 15-9 in a Section 1A Tournament match in GM Thursday.
The Superlarks dominated a must-win game four, but couldn’t keep pace in the fifth and final game. R-P’s Emmarie Jacobson converted an attack at the net to put R-P up 8-6 and Hannah Ronnenberg converted a back row set-attack to make it 9-6.
Although the Superlarks had beaten Mabel-Canton, the No. 2 seed, a week ago, they weren’t able to recreate the magic on Thursday. GM head coach Sue Wilson said her team always brings its best and she liked the effort they showed against the Trojans.
“They always play with a ton of heart and they always play like they want it. They’re never unsure and they played hard tonight,” Wilson said. “I think Rushford just played a good game tonight.”
GM junior Kendyl Queensland served the first nine points of a must-win fourth game as she mixed in a pair of aces to keep the Trojans (18-11 overall) off-balanced.
“We showed a lot of fight and I think we showed a lot of teamwork,” Queensland said. “We wanted to play for each other and play for our seniors. We wanted to leave it all out there for them. River (Landers) has taught us so much this year. It is unbelievable. She’s been there every step of the way for us. All of the seniors have helped us.”
Landers finished with 14 kills and Queensland had nine kills.
After a pair of back-and-forth matches to start the night, the Trojans made a big push in the third game. R-P’s Ellyson Malone served five straight points to put her team up 16-7 and the Superlarks could only get as close as 20-14.
GM (14-12 overall) trailed game one 20-17, but scored eight of the next nine points to take it. Queensland had a kill to make it 22-21 and another kill to make it 24-21 after her sister Lauren Queensland had put down a spike to make it 23-21.
“The seniors that we’ve had this year have been amazing leaders and they really took the younger girls under their wing,” Wilson said. “The whole team worked hard together to be successful.”
