/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Lakers continue strong play with sweep against Rabbits

Photo by Jake Przytarski Lakeview’s LeAnn Stensrud goes up for a kill during their match against Wabasso on Thursday. The Lakers defeated the Rabbits 3-0.

WABASSO — It’s been an October to remember for the 10th ranked Lakeview volleyball team.

The Lakers notched their 10th straight win of this month and 11th consecutive win overall on Thursday after traveling to Wabasso and defeating the Rabbits in a straight sets sweep.

With momentum continually building for the Lakers, coach Stephanie Hennen said the team is excited to get the postseason underway.

“We’re anxious to get going into the playoffs and see how far we can go,” said Hennen.

The Lakers were in postseason form throughout the match and established control of set one early on with a 6-0 run highlighted by a Kaitlin Fischer ace and a Savannah Rausch kill. Following back-to-back aces at the service line by Sidney Geistfeld to make it 11-1, Lakeview kept its foot on the gas all the way to a 25-6 win in the opening set.

Hennen said the team came in focused and ready to go from the very start of the match.

“I think we just came in quite focused and ready to go,” said Hennen. “We’re trying to get ready for playoffs, we wanted to try a few different things. I think my kids are playing with a lot of confidence and I think that helped.”

Wabasso was able to turn the page on the lopsided start to the match by jumping out a 5-3 lead in set two, but could not keep up with the Lakers down the stretch. The Lakers took their first lead of the set at 6-5 and proceeded to go on a 12-4 run that gave them an 18-9 advantage. Lakeview managed to stave off a late Wabasso run to defeat the Rabbits 25-18 in set two.

Wabasso coach Barbara Johnson said the team was much more dialed in for set two which resulted in a closer finish.

“We mentally were more into the game. We kind of checked in a little bit more (and) fought hard against them. Lakeview’s a very good team so nothing against them, but we just weren’t quite mentally ready,” said Johnson.

Much like the previous set, the Rabbits were able to get off to a fast start in the third and final set and managed to keep pace with the speedy Lakers with a one-point deficit at 5-4. Using a 9-2 run, Lakeview seized control with a 14-6 lead that it never relinquished for the remainder of the set en route to a 25-13 final.

Wabasso (8-19) earned the No. 10 seed and will have a first-round matchup in the Section 3A tournament against No. 7 Yellow Medicine East on Monday at 7 p.m. in Granite Falls. The winner of the match will take on No. 2 Lakeview (25-3) in Cottonwood.

In preparation for their upcoming match, Johnson said the Rabbits will be focusing on passing in their next practices.

“We’re going to really focus on our passing,” said Johnson. “We need to get better passes for our setters so they can deliver the ball to our hitters where the hitters need them and hopefully that will work out.”

Hennen hopes that the victory will provide another boost of confidence for her team

“We hope that the win will give us some confidence starting off our subsection run,” said Hennen. “We could end up facing them again so it was good to be able to get a chance to see them.”

Lakeview 3, Wabasso 0

Lakeview 25 25 25

Wabasso 6 18 13

KILLS: Lakeview (Stensrud 13, Louwagie 10); Wabasso (Eichten 6, Fenger 4).

DIGS: Lakeview (Imes 10, Geistfeld 10, Stensrud 7, Louwagie 6); Wabasso (Franta 12, Frank 9, Eichten 7, Brand 7).

SERVING (Aces): Lakeview (Geistfeld 2, Imes 1); Wabasso (Frank 1, Eichten 1).

SET ASSISTS: Lakeview (Fischer 24); Wabasso (Carlson 5, Frank 5).

BLOCKS: Lakeview (Rausch 2, Gniffke 2); Wabasso (Frank 2, Eichten 2).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today