A strong serving performance sparked the Park Rapids volleyball team to another victory Tuesday night.
The Panthers served 17 aces and had 27 kills in a 25-18, 25-11, 25-18 victory over Menahga at the Area High School gym. That victory, the seventh in the last eight matches, lifted the Panthers' overall record to 7-6 on the season.
Menahga stayed close in Game 1, holding a 17-15 lead before the Panthers closed with a 10-1 run.
Hannah Wolff's kill and ace serve gave Park Rapids a 5-2 lead. Laura Dunker had an ace serve for the Braves during that stretch. After a kill by Menahga's Lindsey White, the Panthers used a kill by Hailey Lundin for a 9-5 edge.
Two aces by White and a block by Dunker gave Menahga an 11-9 advantage. Shelby Weckwerth served an ace and four points, capped by a kill by Lundin, to give the Panthers a 14-11 lead. Emily Skoog and Delanie Weyer served two points each as Menahga built a 17-15 advantage.
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The Panthers then took control as Lundin served an ace and Wolff had a kill during a five-point run. A kill by Menahga's Brianne Tolkkinen ended that run as Park Rapids held a 21-18 edge. Wolff then served out the final three points to put Park Rapids in the lead.
Park Rapids maintained that momentum into Game 2 by jumping out to a 9-2 lead. Lundin served four aces, Megan Norby had a winning tip and a kill, and Wolff pounded down a kill during an 8-0 spurt.
Amelia Pho's tip, a kill by Weyer and three ace serves by Tolkkinen pulled Menahga to within 12-8. The Panthers responded with an 8-1 run to claim a 20-9 cushion. Norby served an ace, Lundin had two kills, and Wolff and Ashley Domino chipped in a kill during that stretch. A kill by Norby and four service points, including an ace, by Jenny Palm closed out Game 2.
The Braves were in position to force another game before Park Rapids went on an 11-3 run to close out the match.
Three service points by Dunker gave Menahga a 4-2 lead before a pair of kills by Domino and Lundin gave the Panthers an 11-9 edge.
Skoog served two aces and Dunker had a kill as Menahga claimed a 13-11 advantage. After kills by Wolff and Lundin gave the Panthers a 14-13 edge, a kill by Skoog put Menahga in front 15-14.
Three kills by Norby and a kill and ace serve by Wolff helped give the Panthers a 20-17 advantage. A block by Domino and Olivia Vaadeland, a tip by Norby and a kill by Vaadeland closed out the match.
Lundin served eight aces and had 16 points, Wolff finished with eight kills and Weckwerth had 16 digs to lead the Panthers.
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Molly Aukes' team, which traveled to Thief River Falls Thursday night, will host Crookston Monday night.
Park Rapids statistics
Serving: Palm 8 for 9 (2 aces), Weckwerth 10 for 10 (2 aces), Norby 10 for 11 (2 aces), Taylor 1 for 1, Warne 1 for 1, Lundin 19 for 22 (8 aces), Wolff 11 for 12 (3 aces), Smythe 8 for 9.
Service points: Palm 5, Weckwerth 7, Norby 7, Lundin 16, Wolff 8, Smythe 5.
Sets: Palm 30 (9 assists), Norby 1 (1 assist), Domino 8 (3 assists), Wolff 1, Tostenson 5 (1 assist), Smythe 22 (12 assists), Vaadeland 1.
Attacks: Palm 2, Norby 14 (5 kills), Domino 7 (4 kills), Lundin 14 (7 kills), Wolff 15 (8 kills), Tostenson 7 (1 kill), Vaadeland 9 (2 kills).
Digs: Palm 3, Weckwerth 16, Norby 17, Domino 2, Taylor 2, Lundin 6, Wolff 3, Smythe 6.
Solo blocks: Wolff 1, Vaadeland 1.
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Assisted blocks: Domino 2, Wolff 3, Vaadeland 1.
