2A volleyball: Delano, Marshall advance

Delano rode the momentum of a surge in the third set into the final, and Marshall players stood strong at state, as their coach expected.

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 11:10 PM

In a match dizzy with momentum swings, one huge burst at the end of the third set made all the difference.

Delano, on the verge of going down two sets to one, rallied with five consecutive points to win the third set and rode that momentum to a 25-15, 22-25, 26-24, 25-14 victory over Le Sueur-Henderson and into today's championship match.

"It's unbelievable how huge that was for us," said Delano coach Rebecca Rue, whose team trailed 24-21 in the third set but got points from five different players to squeak out the set 26-24. "Our girls just never gave up."

The teams had taken turns throughout the match making runs at each other. Delano used its big two, setter/hitters Molly Kreklow and Kayla Koenecke, to set the tone while Le Sueur-Henderson leaned on a tenacious defense that took any ball that hit the floor on its side of the court personally.

"That might be the scrappiest team we've played all season," Rue said. "Nothing was dropping to the floor."

But rather than get frustrated, Delano stayed patient, solving the riddle of Le Sueur-Henderson's block with a solid block of its own and a re-emphasis on hitting with power.

"I think we got a little intimidated by their block," said Koenecke, who finished with a team-leading 25 kills. "We needed to go out and play it point by point and not think too much."

Marshall 3, Hibbing 0

Dan Westby can't figure it out, and he coaches the team.

But there is something about playing volleyball for Marshall that brings out the best in the players on the biggest stage.

The Tigers qualified to play for a state championship for the sixth time in the past eight years, beating Hibbing 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 in the Class 2A semifinals.

Marshall won state championships in 2004 and 2007.

"It doesn't have anything to do with me as a coach, but I've noticed that Marshall kids just seem to find another gear at tournament time," said Westby, whose team is making its ninth consecutive state tournament appearance.

"They don't get bothered, and they don't back down."

Marshall's test Friday was getting past another team in Hibbing that has a deep volleyball tradition. The Bluejackets were making their 23rd state tournament appearance and were led by one of the state's strongest hitters, Kate Lange.

The Tigers countered with a roster loaded with very good, fundamentally sound players. While Lange stood out at the net with 18 kills, Marshall was led by two players, Kayla Wallerich and Rachel Westby, with nine kills, and another player, Jessica Baker, added eight.

Wallerich also led the Tigers in assists with 18 while Kelsey Deragisch added 16.

"It all starts in practice," Dan Westby said. "We categorize each practice, and if we could have won the conference or the section or the state championship with that practice. We don't always get there with each practice, but we that's what we strive for."