3A volleyball: Stillwater will try to top champs

Shakopee's student section tried to get the wave going during the first game of Thursday morning's Class 3A quarterfinal volleyball match. The effort lasted through 1 1/2 sections of seats at Xcel Energy Center, becoming about the only thing associated with the Sabers to fail this season.

Top-ranked Shakopee defeated Centennial 25-18, 25-16, 25-22 to keep its season record unblemished, now at 30-0.

Behind the dropped curtain of what would be center ice at the X, Stillwater wasn't nearly having as smooth of a time with Andover on Court 2.

The two teams battled for better than 90 minutes before the Ponies (26-4) ultimately won a seesaw 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22 match over the Huskies (23-8).

Stillwater's reward for such an effort? A date at 9 a.m. today with the Sabers.

Though Shakopee has dropped only three games all season -- two coming last week in the Section 2 championship match against Chaska -- Stillwater coach Michele Parker said there is little intimidation factor for this morning's semifinal.

"I don't know what will happen next, but we're ready," Parker said. "[The Sabers] are who they are. They have this reputation that they've earned, and rightfully so."

But?

"They're beatable -- anyone is," she said. "We're walking in with that frame of mind. I think we're excited to be able to play them."

No one has knocked off the two-time defending state champion Sabers since Lakeville North more than 13 months ago.

Thursday's match vs. Centennial (24-6) wasn't perfect; Shakopee hit .176 in the second game. But it's scary to think that coach Matt Busch chalked it up to getting "the jitters out in general."

"Hopefully they're gone now," he said. "Other than our fans, everybody would love to see us lose. There's no way around that. It comes with this territory."

Burnsville 3, Farmington 0: This just in: Tori Dixon has a cannon of a right arm.

The 6-3 senior middle hitter amassed 25 kills, leading second-seeded Burnsville to a 25-21, 25-19, 25-11 quarterfinal victory over Farmington.

Dixon's power was evident from the start. Her blast from the right side baffled a pair of Tigers defenders and won the first game for the Blaze (22-9). It was her 11th kill of the game.

Most of Dixon's points come on those patented, echo-inducing slams from the front row. But when needed, the Gophers recruit will opt for tips, even if they're not exactly what she's known for. In the second game, she fooled Farmington (19-11) with a soft tip at the net to clinch a 2-0 lead.

"It's a big part of my game because I'm used to hitting everything," she said. "Everyone is expecting that from me. When I throw in a tip or a roll shot, no one really expects it, so it helps the team out.

"But, yeah! Of course I want to hit everything. Who wouldn't?"

Wayzata 3, Alexandria 0: The No. 3-seeded Trojans (23-8) turned away Alexandria (24-8) 25-19, 25-14, 25-20 and will meet the Blaze in the semifinals at 11 a.m. today.

Wayzata and Burnsville have not played each other this season, but Trojans coach Scott Jackson said he had zero plans of finding some film and watching Burnsville's game plan prior to today's match.

"[It's] Tori Dixon, surrounded by very good players," he said with a laugh. "I'll ask some friends what they know, and then do that."

Wayzata is in its fourth state tournament in six years, but this is the first time the Trojans have advanced to the semifinals in that time.