Shakopee stays unbeaten; Centennial makes history

Saturday's Class 3A, Section 2 volleyball final was held at a new venue this year yet ended with the same result as last fall. And this one came with a twist.

Top-ranked and top-seeded Shakopee kept its unbeaten streak intact, defeating No. 2-ranked and No. 2-seeded Chaska 25-20, 25-19, 24-26, 21-25, 15-12 at the freshly minted Chanhassen High School.

Shakopee (28-0) now advances to the state tournament for the third year in a row seeking a third consecutive title.

Getting there was far from easy. The Sabers were pushed by the Hawks (25-4) in ways not seen in some time.

Shakopee entered the match having not dropped a single game since a 3-1 season-opening victory at Eastview, a streak of 70 in a row.

Its last five-game match was Aug. 28, 2008, a 3-2 loss at Lakeville North.

"We didn't have a lot of energy left over," Shakopee coach Matt Busch said. "But they just never gave up; you could see it in their eyes."

After the Sabers went up 2-0 in the match it was hard not to think it was over. But Chaska had something to say about that.

The third game featured 13 ties, the last coming at 24-24. A kill and a block from the Hawks after that, and the sweep was off.

Chaska then forced a deciding fifth game when it rattled off the final four points of the fourth game. In the clincher, Chaska led 5-4 but couldn't sustain any momentum.

Ashley Wittman led Shakopee with 35 kills.

BRIAN STENSAAS

After using the Class 3A, Section 5 volleyball championship trophy as a centerpiece for countless postmatch pictures, one of Centennial's players brought it to coach Jackie Rehbein-Manthey and said, "Here. I don't know what to do with it. But I'm glad we have it."

Sweeping Osseo on Saturday allowed the Cougars to get their hands on the hardware for the first time in school history. Osseo won the regular season meeting 3-1 on Oct. 13, but it was all Centennial in the rematch (25-15, 25-22, 25-18).

"We wanted this so bad for the team," Megan Waytashek said. "We played with a lot of intensity tonight."

Sapped by illness in the first Osseo match, the Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never relented.

"The last time we played them it was the other way around and we got into a big hole," sophomore Leigh Pudwill said. Pudwill, who recorded the final kill in games one and two, finished with 10. Teammate Amanda McAulay's 12 kills led the Cougars.

Centennial's height advantage made a difference. Abby Mohr (six blocks) and Laura Reiter (three) were two of the four Cougars regulars 6-feet or taller. Osseo did not have a player taller than 5-11.

The Orioles hoped to defend their section championship, but coach Bill Quan said Centennial's relentless play prevented his team from getting any momentum.

"They were more aggressive," Quan said. "We were on heels and couldn't get off them."

DAVID LA VAQUE