Sectional News and Notes from Saturday 10/27
Quarterfinal and semifinal action is the topic of the upcoming week. The field is narrowing quickly with most section action seeing the higher seeded teams advancing, although there are some exceptions. Here are some news and notes from Saturday’s action…
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Continue ReadingQuarterfinal and semifinal action is the topic of the upcoming week. The field is narrowing quickly with most section action seeing the higher seeded teams advancing, although there are some exceptions. Here are some news and notes from Saturday’s action and upcoming 3A matches for the early part of this week.
Saturday’s Results
The Mayo Civic Center played host to most of Saturday’s matches with two of the most anticipated results coming to fruition in 2A action with #1 ranked Kasson-Mantorville and #2 ranked Stewartville both dispatching of their opponents to set up a monstrous semifinal contest in Section 1AA this coming Thursday. Both teams won by 3-0 margins with the KoMets defeating Byron as the Tigers dismantled Zumbrota-Mazeppa. A full preview for their semifinal match will be available on Wednesday. The other half of Section 1AA is set as well with Lake City and St. Charles each earning 3-1 victories over Red Wing and Winona-Cotter respectively.
In Section 1A action, the semifinals are also set now as Mabel-Canton, the top seed, took care of Caledonia 3-1. They will face Spring Grove, a 3-2 winner over Wabasha-Kellogg. Not too surprisingly, Bethlehem Academy upset higher seeded Grand Meadow 3-0 for the opportunity to take on #2 seeded Medford, a 3-0 winner over Goodhue. Although the Cardinals have an overall record not typical of program standards (7-16), saw a key member transfer to a rival school, lost their first conference match since 1999, and are under the guidance of an interim head coach, they are tested. And, they have tradition. With a tough season schedule behind them, they have shown they will not shy away from the best competition in the state regardless of division. With opponents such as Lakeville North, Kasson-Mantorville, Stewartville, Eagan, and Kenyon-Wanamingo behind them, which also includes a win over Mayer Lutheran, they enter the semifinals with expectations to compete and succeed. The Cardinals are led by returning Gopher all-conference selections in Olivia Nass (Lib | 2019) and Hailey Lang (OH | 2020). They next face a Medford team that is 24-5 on the season and previously swept the Cardinals 3-0 back in early October.
3A Semifinal Predictions
All 3A brackets are at the semifinal stage with only Section 6AAA and 7AAA seeing the biggest upsets thus far with both #6 and #7 seeds advancing. Some great matchups are set for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Here is a brief breakdown:
Section 1AAA: Loaded with ranked teams and great experience, Section 1AAA will certainly bring some great competition on Wednesday. Elizabeth Juhnke (OH | 2019) and #2 ranked Lakeville North will take on Rochester Century and their senior duo of Rachel Fink (OH | 2019) and Nicole Lund (MH | 2019). On the other side it is #4 ranked Lakeville South and Jasmine Mulvihill (OH | 2019) versus a solid #9 ranked Northfield team anchored by Linnea Larson (MH | 2019) and Bronwyn Timperley (OH | 2020). With a varied arsenal of weapons, look for North and South to advance and square off once again this season, this time for a section title.
Section 2AAA: Erin Shoemaker (OH | 2019) and Dresi pass (S | 2019) and the Minnetonka Skippers take on Prior Lake, with Julia Hanson (OH | 2022) and Dezirae Spratt (OH/DS | 2020). Shakopee will duel New Prague, both matches to be played on Tuesday evening. Minnetonka and Shakopee have great results behind them and should meet for the section title.
Section 3AAA: Eagan and Rosemount will square off Tuesday, just as East Ridge and Eastview battle for a shot at the championship. As the top-ranked team in 3A, Eagan will advance, with the edge going to East Ridge and their veteran duo in Stephanie Barber (S | 2019) and Kate Reimann (OH | 2019) and from the steady support of youngsters Lauren Galvin (OH | 2021) and Brit Carlson (RS | 2022).
Section 4AAA: The only contests this week to be played on Monday are the semifinal matchups between top-seeded Stillwater and Centennial, with North taking on Roseville. Stillwater and North should advance to the finals.
Section 5AAA: A loaded and veteran Champlin Park team takes on a Rogers squad that is led by a 6’6 freshman. Wayzata, led by Elizabeth Helmich (RS | 2020) and Olivia Johnson (S | 2020), will play Osseo (a team they defeated 3-1 earlier this season) and their core of Lindy Oujiri (OH | 2020), Kelsie Sealock (OH | 2019), Taylor Quan (Lib | 2020), and Corissa Fuhrman (S | 2019). Champlin Park is the overwhelming favorite and will likely see Wayzata in the section finals.
Section 6AAA: The winner of Edina and St. Louis Park will take on the winner of upstarts #6 seed Robbinsdale-Armstrong and #7 seed Hopkins. Robbinsdale-Armstrong is playing some good volleyball right now and will advance to play the senior trio from Edina in Ella Haugen (S | 2019), Christine Graf (OH | 2019), and Alaina Bohrer (OH | 2019).
Section 7AAA: A Forest Lake versus Grand Rapids winner will clash with another #6 versus #7 battle between Andover and Princeton. Forest Lake will advance to take on Andover in the finals.
Section 8AAA: On Tuesday, The top-seeded Willmar Cardinals and Carly Wedel (S | 2019) face Sauk Rapids-Rice as a balanced Moorhead squad will take on Brainerd. Willmar and Moorhead will move forward with a shot at the state tournament in the balance later this week.