A thrilling volleyball match goes to the Jaguars tonight in five games

The Jaguars celebrate taking game three in tonight's barn burner of a match at neighboring rival Sauk Centre, a win that put them up 2-1 in games during the match.

What a finish! The Jaguars volleyball team was victorious in their 2010 season opener at Sauk Centre tonight, winning in five sets over the state-ranked Class AA Mainstreeters.

Game scores were 25-22, 11-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-10. B-B-E senior Maggie Gruber finished off the Mainstreeters with a kill for a 14-10 lead in game five and then an ace block on a Kali Peschel attack for match point.

It marked the third straight win over Sauk Centre for B-B-E's volleyball team. The Jaguars have lost only one time to the Mainstreeters since 2001, while they have beaten Sauk Centre every time since that season in regular season match ups. Sauk Centre defeated the Jaguars in the third-place match of the Sauk Rapids tournament in September 2007.

This video clip ended with Sauk Centre leading 7-4 in game four. Take special note 58 seconds into the clip, when Maggie Gruber blasts a monster kill to open floor in the back corner. The Mainstreeters ultimately won the set 25-14 but lost the match in a 3-2 thriller.


Below, Coach Weller fires up his team with a pre-match pep talk. His words were golden by the time the match was complete.

• B-B-E 25, Sauk Centre 22 - Game One

In tonight's see-saw battle, the Jaguars had the early edge with a close win in game one. Two straight kills by Maggie Gruber put them on top 6-2 for a lead that held the rest of the set. After the Mainstreeters closed the gap to 15-14, kills from Gruber and Brittany Roelike helped the Jaguars stay ahead even as the Maroon kept closing the game to one point five more times up to a 23-21 lead.

A Mainstreeters' hitting error and a kill from Taylor Braegelman closed out game one for the Jaguars, who won 25-22.

• Sauk Centre 25, B-B-E 11 - Game Two

The second set was all Maroon, as they jumped in front 4-0 before a service error gave the Jaguars a side out. Sauk Centre scored four more unanswered points before they committed two hitting errors and then Gruber and Raeann Sorenson put up a tough block to close the gap to 8-4.

The Mainstreeters stepped it up another level and gave up only one kill while outscoring the Jaguars 9-2. After getting a side out on a Sauk Centre service error, sophomore Taylor Braegelman drilled an attack through a block. The Mainstreeters gave up only one more ace attack (Shyan Kuefler) to the Jaguars the rest of the set, though, finishing off the Jaguars with an 8-3 run.

• B-B-E 25, Sauk Centre 22 - Game Three

The third set was controlled by the Jaguars, though Sauk Centre made two runs at big deficits to keep things interesting. The Jaguars took an early 7-2 lead with kills and a block from Gruber and an ace serve from Julie Hieserich.

Sauk Centre's Jena Klaphake served up four unanswered points for the Maroon to make it 12-8. A kill from Kuefler along with her ace block started another rally for B-B-E, who took a 21-12 lead. Kuefler's kill put the Jaguars at game point, leading 24-15, but Sauk Centre did not go quietly as they scored seven straight for a two-point gap.

Braegelman stepped up her game and fired down an ace attack straight down in front of her on the left side, putting the Jaguars ahead 2-1 in sets.

• Sauk Centre 25, B-B-E 14 - Game Four

In game four, the Mainstreeters pulled ahead 4-1 before the Jaguars came back with two ace serves from Roelike to get within one at 7-6. They could not grab momentum their way, however, as Sauk Centre stretched the lead to double digits after scoring five unanswered to close out game four 25-14.

• B-B-E 15, Sauk Centre 10 - Game Five

In the rubber match of volleyball, game five, an early lead is always important with the rally scoring format that's been in place in Minnesota since 2003.

Sauk Centre won the coin flip, but fortunately a service error nixed that advantage and put the Jaguars up 1-0 before they had even touched the ball. Sauk Centre's outstanding junior middle hitter Kali Peschel earned a kill, then Gruber hit a kill for a 2-1 Jaguars' lead. Peschel hit her final ace attack of the night (#20) to make it 2-2, and then Gruber answered that with her 14th kill of the night to help the Jaguars take a 5-2 lead.

The Jaguars stepped up their blocks and were able to keep Peschel in check the rest of the game. Three unforced errors allowed Sauk Centre to tie the game, though, at 5-5. Kuefler's ace attack started a brief see saw on the scoreboard, with Sauk Centre take their only lead of the set (8-7) after two straight kills from Shelby Deters.

Coach Weller promptly called a timeout, and whatever he said worked like a charm as the Jaguars scored three straight for a lead they did not relinquish. They came out fired up from the break and forced a tie, then took a 10-8 lead on two straight Braegelman attacks.

Sauk Centre's final kill of the night, again from Deters in cross court fashion, brought them within one point. Braegelman answered with her third kill of the game and the Jaguars coasted to the win with a match-ending 5-1 run.

Quite fittingly, after Gruber's ace attack brought match point at 14-10, she put up a solid solo block on Kali Peschel's attack and ended the 100-minute long marathon in Sauk Centre.

It was a great day in Jaguar country, as the girls tennis team also picked up a win earlier in the day at Morris. (See below for more on that)

Area volleyball results tonight, marking the official opener for prep volleyball across Minnesota:

MACCRAY 3, Yellow Medicine East 2 (a thrilling neighboring rivalry just like the one that played out in Sauk Centre)

Albany Tournament results:
Maple Lake 2, Park Rapids Area 0
St.Cloud Apollo 2, Minnewaska Area 0
Albany 2, Little Falls 0
Albany 2, Park Rapids Area 0
Maple Lake 2, Little Falls 0
Rocori 2, Minnewaska Area 0
Albany 2, Maple Lake 1
Minnewaska Area 2, Park Rapids Area 0 (seventh place match)
Maple Lake 2, Watertown-Mayer 0 (third place match)
Rocori 2, Albany 0 (championship)

This Jaguars sports update is brought to you by: