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ROSEAU – In the second match of the season, Roseau seemed to be in control after winning the first set before Park Rapids rallied to claim the match.
In the rematch in the Section 8AA volleyball quarterfinals, Park Rapids appeared to have the momentum after winning the first two sets before Roseau rallied to prevail 3-2 in this marathon match on Friday, Oct. 28.
The Rams pounded down 57 kills in a come-from-behind 21-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-10 victory.
“We came into Roseau feeling confident, which is exactly how our team needed to feel entering a playoff game. We liked our odds of pulling an upset over the No. 1 seed, especially since we were able to take a win against them early in the season,” said Park Rapids head coach Ellie Riihiluoma. “Although we were confident, we also knew that this game needed to be taken seriously because both teams have improved over the course of the season. We expected it to be close and down to the wire, and it delivered.”
Park Rapids (which defeated Roseau 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 during the regular season) entered this match as the No. 4 seed in the North while Roseau was the No. 1 seed.
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Chloe Tretbar led the Panthers with 11 kills and three solo blocks. Riley Pike (8), Natalie Viloria (8), Abby Felts (7), Kilea Persons (6) and Anna Yliniemi (5) combined for 34 kills with Erika Sellin (19) and Pike (17) combining for 36 set assists. Pike (18), Yliniemi (16), Felts (13), Tretbar (11) and Persons (10) had double figures in digs as Park Rapids ended the season with a 9-20 record.
Anya Severson (16), Cora Lundbohm (13) and Aubrey Waage (13) combined for 42 kills for the Rams, who improved to 15-14.
In the other section quarterfinals, East Grand Forks defeated Thief River Falls (25-15, 25-20, 25-14), Barnesville eliminated Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (25-13, 25-16, 20-25, 25-23) and Hawley defeated Perham (25-20, 25-16, 25-20).
“Our girls played hard and put us in a good position early with their serving and smart plays. We adjusted our defense to their deep hits and fought for every point,” said Riihiluoma. “Roseau served and hit well late in the match, and remained confident. It definitely helps to be in your own gym where the home crowd can get behind you. While the loss in Roseau definitely stings, I hope when they look back on their season they are able to see all the good that went with it.”
The Panthers opened the section tournament with a 25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-12 win over Warroad on Oct. 26. Sellin served three aces, Persons and Tretbar had 10 kills each, Pike had 24 set assists, and Pike (16), Persons (15), Felts (15) and Yliniemi (12) had double figures in digs in that match.
Park Rapids stats vs. Roseau
Serves: Pike 23 for 23, Yliniemi 20 for 21, Persons 15 for 17 (1 ace), Felts 12 for 14 (1 ace), Tretbar 10 for 12, Sellin 8 for 9 (1 ace).
Attacks: Tretbar 32 (11 kills), Viloria 31 (8 kills), Felts 27 (7 kills), Persons 26 (6 kills), Pike 25 (8 kills), Yliniemi 23 (5 kills).
Sets: Pike 73 (17 assists), Sellin 57 (19 assists), Viloria 11 (4 assists), Tretbar 7 (3 assists), Yliniemi 4 (1 assist), Persons 3, Felts 1 (1 assist).
Digs: Pike 18, Yliniemi 16, Felts 13, Tretbar 11, Persons 10, Viloria 4, Sellin 4.
Blocks (solo-assists): Tretbar 3-3, Pike 0-2, Yliniemi 0-2, Felts 0-1.
Serve receive: Persons 30 for 32, Tretbar 22 for 22, Yliniemi 18 for 18, Felts 17 for 17, Pike 7 for 8, Hanson 2 for 2, Miller 1 for 1.
Park Rapids stats vs. Warroad
Serves: Sellin 20 for 21 (3 aces), Yliniemi 19 for 20 (1 ace), Tretbar 16 for 20 (2 aces), Pike 16 for 18 (1 ace), Felts 7 for 10 (1 ace), Persons 7 for 9.
Attacks: Tretbar 32 (10 kills), Pike 27 (7 kills), Persons 26 (10 kills), Yliniemi 20 (2 kills), Felts 19 (8 kills), Viloria 17 (9 kills), Sellin 2.
Sets: Pike 68 (24 assists), Sellin 38 (14 assists), Viloria 12 (2 assists), Felts 10 (1 assist), Yliniemi 6, Persons 4 (2 assists), Tretbar 3 (1 assist).
Digs: Pike 16, Persons 15, Felts 15, Yliniemi 12, Tretbar 9, Sellin 4, Viloria 1.
Blocks (solo-assists): Viloria 2-0, Pike 0-1, Felts 0-1.
Serve receive: Persons 35 for 39, Yliniemi 13 for 14, Felts 12 for 14, Pike 7 for 8, Tretbar 6 for 7, Viloria 1 for 1.
EGF ousts Braves
EAST GRAND FORKS – Ellie Marcott and McKaylee Fitzpatrick had eight kills each in leading East Grand Forks to a 3-0 win over Menahga in the first round of the Section 8AA tournament on Oct. 26.
Marcott also served four aces while Addison Kujawa added seven kills and Alison Kovar had 12 digs as the Green Wave posted a 25-11, 25-19, 25-27 victory.
Anna Pietila and Niina Pinoniemi served two aces each while Erica Tormanen (5), Taija Pinoniemi (4) and Janelle Hendrickson (4) combined for 13 kills. Addie Pinoniemi (9), Maddie Hendrickson (8) and Janelle Hendrickson (8) combined for 25 digs for the Braves, who had 17 kills with 24 hitting errors and made nine errors on serve receive in the loss.
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EGF, the No. 3 seed in the North, improved to 15-12 while Menahga, the No. 6 seed in the North, ended the season with a 6-18 record.
Menahga statistics
Serves: Pietila 9 for 10 (2 aces), J. Hendrickson 9 for 9, Mal. Hendrickson 8 for 8, Tormanen 6 for 7, N. Pinoniemi 6 for 6 (2 aces), A. Pinoniemi 6 for 6, Weaver 2 for 2.
Attacks: A. Pinoniemi 20 (2 kills), Tormanen 19 (5 kills), J. Hendrickson 18 (4 kills), Weaver 13, T. Pinoniemi 9 (4 kills), Mal. Hendrickson 4 (1 kill), Pietila 1 (1 kill), Mad. Hendrickson 1.
Sets: A. Pinoniemi 31 (4 assists), Pietila 23 (5 assists), Mad. Hendrickson 6 (1 assist), Tormanen 5 (1 assist), J. Hendrickson 3 (1 assist), T. Pinoniemi 3, Weaver 3, Mal. Hendrickson 1.
Digs: A. Pinoniemi 9, Mad. Hendrickson 8, J. Hendrickson 8, Tormanen 5, Pietila 4, N. Pinoniemi 2, T. Pinoniemi 1, Weaver 1, Mal. Hendrickson 1.
Assisted blocks: Mal. Hendrickson 2, A. Pinoniemi 1, Weaver 1.
