Trending
REDWOOD FALLS -- The Marshall volleyball team is headed back to the state tournament after earning a four-set victory over Willmar to claim its sixth consecutive Section 2AAA championship.
The Tigers defeated the Cardinals 25-14, 24-26, 25-17 and 25-21 to extend their section championship streak to six years. Marshall has defeated Willmar in each of the last two section title matches and four times in the past six years.
The victory secures Marshall’s place in the state tournament, which will be held Nov. 11-14 at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Marshall set the tone with a 25-14 win in the opening set before Willmar evened the match with a narrow 26-24 victory in the second. The Tigers responded by taking the third set 25-17 and closed out the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth.
Julia Fahl led the Tigers with 19 kills, while Nora Holmgren added 18. Bentley Krull and Laurel Ryks chipped in 10 kills apiece.
Holmgren led Marshall at the net with two blocks, while Fahl and Chika Nwakama each added one.
Leah Stelter paced the Tigers defensively with 18 digs. Kezlyn Pinckney added 14 digs, while Fahl finished with 10.
Pinckney and Fahl also led Marshall from the service line with three aces apiece. Jennifer Lee and Madi Mernaugh each added an ace.
The state tournament brackets and seeds have not yet been announced.