Today's state volleyball tournament
GRAND RAPIDS (29-2) VS. DELANO (28-3)
What: Class AAA quarterfinal
When: 11 a.m.
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Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul
Outlook: The Thunderhawks ended a 17-year state tournament drought by defeating Cambridge-Isanti 3-2 in the Section 7AAA final. Senior middle hitter Staci Sjostrand (161 kills, 71 blocks for the season) had 14 kills and seven blocks in the win, while senior outside hitter Bekah Morris (252 kills, 37 ace serves) added a dozen kills. Senior Angela Gareri (226 kills, 47 blocks) is another hitting option. Junior Sidney Mattson (49 aces) averages 8.4 set assists per game and junior Maddie Keute (52 aces) is a digging machine with 375 on the season. ... The Tigers beat Chaska 3-2 in the Section 2AAA championship match to earn a seventh overall tournament berth and fifth in the last seven years (including a Class AA runner-up finish in 2009). Towering middle hitter Shelby Seurer (384 kills, 54 blocks, 41 aces) set a school record with 1,193 career kills and committed to Division I Northern Illinois, while junior middle hitter Alex Wittinger is second in kills (288) and first in blocks (83). Junior Bria Barfknecht (221 kills) and freshman Tori Hanson (192) give Delano options on the outside. Senior Elle Heinonen, a Michigan Tech recruit, has reached 1,000 career digs. Coach Rebecca Rue is the daughter of Ada-Borup coach Ruth Hayden, whose team qualified for the Class A field.
Radio: KOZY-AM 1320 and KMFY-FM 96.9
Quote: "They are a top-tier team in 3A volleyball. They have a couple tall middles that are exceptional at the net and a setter (Kristin Kreklow) who is really skilled. They are playing in a hotbed of talent down there, so to come out of there with 28 wins shows they are a quality team." -- Grand Rapids coach Bryan Fideldy on today's opponent.
CARLTON (26-5) VS. MINNEOTA (29-3)
What: Class A quarterfinal
When: 3 p.m.
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Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul
Outlook: The Bulldogs cruised past McGregor for a second time this season, 3-0 in the Section 7A final. Junior Grace Macor (154 kills, 59 blocks) led the way with 13 kills, while sophomore Macy Belich (159 kills, 35 aces) added 12. Junior Brianna Walton and sophomore Hannah Benson each had 26 set assists. Junior Jessica Stanslaski and sophomore Amanda Groth (team-high 36 aces) are part of a young core that has been together several years. Carlton's only previous state appearances came in 2003 and '04. ... The Vikings beat Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3-1 to win Section 3A and earn a fifth consecutive tournament berth and 10th overall -- all since 2001. Sophomore Taylor Reiss (team-high 498 kills, 65 blocks) is among the state's top middle hitters, while juniors Molly Hennen (297 kills) and Shelby Corbin (181 kills) key the outside. Minneota has dropped only two sets all year to single-A schools.
Radio: WKLK-FM 96.5
Quote: "We're going to try to stay on offense as much as we can and play good defense. We know that if we give them free balls, they are going to pound it back at us. We're going to try to make as few unforced errors as we can." -- Carlton coach Barb Soukkala.
RICK WEEGMAN, NEWS TRIBUNE
