Alexandria volleyball: Cards sweep Detroit Lakes in 8AAA

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The Cardinal girls moved through the first round of the Section 8AAA-North volleyball playoffs Wednesday night with a 3-0 sweep of Detroit Lakes.

Alexandria, the No. 3 seed in the North Division, will now travel to second seeded Bemidji tonight, Friday, for a 7 p.m. game.

The Cardinals met Bemidji just once this season, falling to the Lumberjacks 25-15, 25-22 during the Runestone Classic volleyball tournament?October 13.

Wednesday night’s game saw the Cardinals earn the sweep with scores of 25-13, 25-8, 25-18 to move on.

“The girls came out on fire and with extreme confidence in sets one and two for the match,” said head coach Becky Schlichting. “They came out with the exact chemistry needed for post-season success.

“Set three was really the only time the Lakers gave us a battle. The girls got a bit distracted and unfocused between the second and third set, but were able to recover towards the end and ended up turning a 16-17 deficit into a 25-18 win.

“Our offense was extremely well-rounded and efficient during the match with four hitters posting hitting percentages higher than we have seen all season,” added the coach. “Amanda Christianson had 15 kills, Jenni Wild had six and Adrianne Wensman and Tara LeBrassuer each had five.”

Emily Kuennen contributed three kills and set a solid block for the defense. Natalie Watkins had 11 digs for the night, and Shanee Herd led the team in digs with 15.

For an in depth look and commentary on the game, visit Eric Morken’s blog, More with Morken, at www.echopress.com.

ALEXANDRIA 3, DETROIT LAKES 0

DETROIT LAKES 13 8 18

ALEXANDRIA 25 25 25

ALEXANDRIA STATISTICS

HITTING (good-attempts-kills) – Allie Noetzelman 8-8-1, Natalie Watkins 13-16-0, Adrianne Wensman 15-16-5, Amanda Christianson 21-25-15, Jenni Wild 19-19-6, Tara LeBrasseur 9-11-5, Shanee Herd 4-4-0, Dani Strater 1-1-0, Emily Kuennen 11-13-3, Jess Burns 1-1-0, Nicole Canavati 2-2-0. SET ASSISTS – Noetzelman 23, Canavati 11. SERVING - Noetzelman 12-12-1, Watkins 20-21-4, Wensman 13-14-2, Wild 6-6-0, Herd 6-6-0, Strater 3-3-0, Canavati 11-12-4. DIGS – Noetzelman 1, Watkins 11, Wensman 3, Christianson 1, Wild 6,?Herd 15, Strater 1, Canavati 1. ACE BLOCKS – Wensman 1.

SECTION 8AAA-NORTH DIVISION

SEEDINGS – 1. Fergus Falls, 2. Bemidji, 3. Alexandria, 4. Moorhead, 5. Brainerd, 6. Detroit Lakes.

SOUTH DIVISION

SEEDINGS – 1. Monticello, 2. St. Cloud Tech, 3. Rocori, 4. Sauk Rapids, 5. Sartell, 6. Big Lake, 7. St. Cloud Apollo.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24

OPENING ROUND, 7 P.M.

Monticello bye

Sartell 25-17-25-25-7, Sauk Rapids 15-25-27-22-15

Bemidji bye

Alexandria 25-25-25, Detroit Lakes 13-8-18

Fergus Falls bye

Moorhead 27-25-25, Brainerd 25-19-13

St. Cloud Tech 25-25-20-25, St. Cloud Apollo 19-18-25-20

Rocori 3, Big Lake 0

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26

QUARTERFINALS, 7 P.M.

Sartell at Monticello

Alexandria at Bemidji

Moorhead at Fergus Falls

Rocori at St. Cloud Tech

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30

SEMIFINALS

Sartell/Monticello winner vs.

Alexandria/Bemidji winner at highest seed

Moorhead/Fergus Falls winner vs. St. Cloud Tech/Rocori winner at highest seed

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3

8AAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. at neutral site

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, volleyball, section, 8aaa