Verndale defeats Braves in close conference clash

Tess Jones recorded 16 kills, six blocks and three ace serves in leading Verndale to a hard-fought 3-0 Park Region Conference win over the Menahga volleyball team on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Ashley Aarseth added 13 kills and two ace serves in the Pirates’ 26-24, 25-22, 29-27 victory at Verndale.

Janie Tormanen (8), Rena Pinoniemi (7) and Maryn Pinoniemi (6) combined for 21 kills for Menahga, which had 23 hitting errors in the match. Annie Lake set up 27 of the Braves’ 31 kills while Hillukka served three aces.

Tormanen’s two solo blocks and Mary Pinoniemi’s 20 digs led Menahga’s defense.

Verndale improved to 2-3 in conference matches and 7-13 overall while the Braves fell to 0-5 in Park Region matches and 6-11 overall. Wadena-Deer Creek (5-0), New York Mills (4-1) and Henning (4-1) top the conference standings.

Menahga statistics

Serving: M. Pinoniemi 16 for 17 (1 ace), R. Pinoniemi 16 for 16 (1 ace), Pietila 9 for 9 (1 ace), Tormanen 6 for 7, Lake 9 for 9 (1 ace), Hillukka 10 for 10 (3 aces), Besonen 4 for 4.

Attacks: Tormanen 35 (8 kills), Hillukka 28 (4 kills), R. Pinoniemi 23 (7 kills), M. Pinoniemi 23 (6 kills), Pietila 17 (4 kills), Lake 6 (2 kills), Pfeifer 2.

Set assists: Lake 27, Pietila 2, Tormanen 1, M. Pinoniemi 1.

Digs: M. Pinoniemi 20, Pfeifer 8, Tormanen 7, Pietila 7, Peterson 7, Hillukka 5, Besonen 4, R. Pinoniemi 3, Lake 3.

Blocks (solo-assists): Tormanen 2-2, Lake 0-2.