Card volleyball: Alexandria battles back Warriors

• Trumm

Eric Morken, Echo Press Alexandria senior Sam Trumm (4) and Allie Noetzelman (right) celebrated a kill in a match earlier this season. The Cardinals finished with an identical 11-1 conference record as Rocori but had to settle for second place because of the Spartans’ two-point win over them earlier this year.

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Their final regular season match of the year was a battle, but the Cardinal volleyball team emerged with a five-set victory over Brainerd Tuesday night, sealing up second place in the Central Lakes Conference.

Both the Cards and the Rocori Spartans finished with an 11-1 record, but Alexandria’s loss to Rocori was a two-point loss, while the Spartans’ loss to Fergus Falls was just a one-point loss, giving Rocori the CLC title.

“Brainerd has been one of our toughest CLC matches both times this year, as their program has steadily improved each year under the lead of their new head coach,” said head coach Becky Schlichting. “We were the third team in their last three matches [that] they forced to five games.

“However, we were able to regain our composure in set five to take control and secure the victory.

“Shanee Herd, Sam Trumm and Amanda Christianson were feeding our setters with great passes the majority of the night,” Schlichting continued. “These three also led the team in digs.”

Herd had 19 digs, Christianson 18 and Trumm 13. Trumm and Christianson also led the offensive effort with 22 and 11 kills respectively.

“Again our setters Allie Noetzelman and Quinn Kragenbring were the girls responsible for running our offense and setting our hitters up for success,” said Schlichting, whose players had 23 and 17 set assists respectively.

“We are looking forward to a few needed solid days of practice and to a little longer break over MEA.”

The Section 8AAA-North seedings and brackets are expected to be determined on Monday.

ALEXANDRIA 3, BRAINERD 2

ALEXANDRIA 21 25 25 24 15

BRAINERD 25 17 16 26 7

ALEXANDRIA STATISTICS

KILLS – Allie Noetzelman 1, Amanda Christianson 11, Brianna Johnson 9, Danielle Warren 1, Kaitlin Becker 2, Laurel Thompson 5, Rachel Thompson 4, Sam Trumm 22. BLOCKS – Christianson 3, Cameron Swedberg 2, Becker 1, L. Thompson 1, R. Thompson 2, Trumm 6. ACES – Noetzelman 2, Christianson 6, L. Thompson 2, Quinn Kragenbring 1, Trumm 4. ASSISTS – Noetzelman 23, Kragenbring 17. DIGS – Christianson 18, Trumm 13, Shanee Herd 19.

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