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Class 3A: Chaska sweeps, Eagan rallies to reach finals

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 11/07/14, 1:00PM CST

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The Hawks defeated Roseville in three sets while the defending champion Wildcats needed five sets to defeat Eden Prairie.


Chaska's Sarah Kelly scores on a return against Roseville in the second set of the Class 3A semifinal Friday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo: Matthew Hintz, special to the Star Tribune

Chaska surges late to return the finals

There are no furrowed brows, no beads of sweat on their foreheads. Even when things aren’t going so well for the Chaska volleyball team — which doesn’t happen often — the Hawks are the picture of cool.

So, when Roseville made an almost obligatory run at the Hawks in Friday’s Class 3A semifinals, there was nothing to worry about. For Chaska, things have a way of working themselves out.

And they did each time, as the Hawks advanced to the Class 3A championship for the first time since 2006, beating the Raiders 25-18, 25-16, 25-22.

In each game, the two teams were separated by as little as one point midway through the set. And each time, Chaska put its foot on the gas pedal and pulled away from the Raiders.

“We have so much trust in each other because we’ve been together for so long,” senior outside hitter Sarah Kelly said. “When things get tough, we just get together in a huddle and tell ourselves we can do this.”

That bond comes from a team that rarely splits up. When other volleyball players are deciding on which club team to play for in the offseason, the Chaska players are going about their business as usual. They stay together as a team during the club season, creating a familiarity that few opponents can match.

“I’ve been playing with Makayla [Wenzel] and Keena [Seiffert] since we were 9,” outside hitter Erin Schindler said. “We know just what everyone is going to do.”

Chaska’s comfort level comes from its system, which is always attacking and never relaxing. The constant pressure keeps opponents on their heels. The Hawks had 55 kills, led by 21 from Kelly, to just 21 for Roseville.

“They’re so good, they make you have to work for everything,” Roseville coach Greg Ueland said. “They make very little errors and have a fast offense. They’re very fine-tuned.”

JIM PAULSEN



Eagan's Alyssa Doucette scores a point to put the Wildcats ahead of Eden Prarie in the fourth set of the Class 3A semifinal match Friday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo: Matthew Hintz, special to the Star Tribune

Eagan earns chance to defend its title

After Eagan was routed by Eden Prairie 25-8 in the first set of their Class 3A semifinal match, Wildcats coach Kathy Gillen knew just where to place the blame: Herself.

“That was 100 percent coach’s error,” Gillen said. “I was trying to change our lineup to match Eden Prairie. It was a matter of outthinking the situation.”

Gillen scrapped her plan in the second set and the defending champion Wildcats went back to the style that got them this far. It worked, as Eagan outlasted Eden Prairie 8-25, 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 15-12.

“I told the team it wasn’t their fault, it was mine,” Gillen said. “Even though we had practiced it, it was still new and different.”

Eagan’s balance came through in the remaining sets. Four players recorded 10 or more kills, led by 17 from super-sophomore Brie Orr. Orr also led the Wildcats in set assists with 27, attesting to her versatility.

“I’d actually rather set than hit because I can set up my teammates,” Orr said. “But I love a big kill over an assist.”

Eagan showed a grit that has developed over the season in the fifth and deciding set. Eden Prairie had won the second set 26-24, fending off five straight match points. The Wildcats put it behind them quickly, taking an 8-2 lead in the final set and never trailed.

It was something Gillen said she didn’t see coming when the season started.

“Absolutely not. When we lost 0-3 to Prior Lake and looked like a JV team? I didn’t expect this,” Gillen said. “But kudos to the girls for their hard work and for doing everything they needed to do.”

JIM PAULSEN

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