Another strong performance at the net enabled the Nevis volleyball team to advance to the Section 5A semifinals.
Maggie Lindow's 25 kills and Riley Hanson's 13 kills and four solo blocks sparked the Tigers to a 25-19, 25-21, 25-22 victory over Sebeka Tuesday night at the Park Rapids Century School gym.
Nevis, the No. 1 seed in the Northwest portion of the section, used two kills and a block by Lindow and a kill and block by Hanson to build a 6-3 lead in Game 1. After the No. 2-seeded Trojans rallied to take an 11-9 lead, Lindow followed with a tip, spike and kill to give the Tigers a 15-13 edge. An ace serve by Megan Stambaugh, a kill by Paige Walters, and spikes by Annessa Feder and Walters provided a 22-16 edge. Kills by Hanson and Stambaugh and an ace serve by Mandy Allman closed out the first game.
Cassie Edwards opened Game 2 with three service points as the Tigers led throughout. A block by Lindow and Feder, kills by Lindow and Walters, and two kills by Hanson gave the Tigers a 10-8 advantage. Two kills by Lindow, ace serves by Edwards and Lindow, and two kills by Hanson pushed the lead to 18-15. A kill by Stambaugh, another ace serve by Edwards, and three kills by Lindow helped close out the game.
Lindow continued to dominate at the net in Game 3 as three kills and a pair of winning tips kept Nevis within 14-13. Lindow also had a dig and winning spike while Hanson chipped in two kills and Edwards had a winning spike in the early going. An ace serve by Lindow and a block by Feder tied the match at 15-15 before Kjera Gustafson served three points to give Nevis a 19-15 advantage. Hanson had two kills and Edwards had a winning tip during that run. A tip by Hanson and a kill by Stambaugh gave the Tigers a 21-19 advantage before a kill by Lindow helped seal the win.
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The Tigers finished with 52 kills and 36 digs. Edwards had 37 set assists, Stambaugh had seven kills, Feder had three solo blocks, and Erin Walters and Paige Walters combined for 17 digs as the Tigers improved to 18-9 on the season.
Sebeka ended the season with a 22-6 record.
Nevis defeated Onamia Thursday night at Brainerd to advance to the Section 5A title match against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, which defeated Bertha-Hewitt in Thursday night's other semifinal match. The section title match will be played tonight (Saturday) at 7 at Bertha. The winner advances to the state Class A tournament.
Nevis statistics vs. Sebeka
Serving: E. Walters 5 for 8, Stambaugh 9 for 12 (1 ace), Allman 6 for 7 (1 ace), Lindow 6 for 9 (2 aces), Edwards 14 for 15 (2 aces), Gustafson 12 for 14 (2 aces).
Sets: E. Walters 3 (2 assists), Stambaugh 1 (1 assist), Edwards 73 (37 assists), P. Walters 1 (1 assist), Feder 2 (1 assist), Hanson 1 (1 assist), Gustafson 2.
Attacks: Stambaugh 13 (7 kills), Lindow 34 (25 kills), P. Walters 14 (3 kills), Feder 5 (4 kills), Hanson 28 (13 kills).
Serves received: E. Walters 14 for 15, Stambaugh 7 for 7, Lindow 10 for 10, P. Walters 13 for 20.
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Digs: E. Walters 9, Stambaugh 6, Allman 2, Lindow 7, P. Walters 8, Feder 2, Hanson 1, Gustafson 1.
Solo blocks: Lindow 1, Feder 3, Hanson 4.
Assisted blocks: Lindow 2, P. Walters 1, Feder 2, Hanson 2.
