Step I: B-B-E 3, Eden Valley-Watkins 0

Celebrating a kill by Ashley Trustheim (left), which resulted in a 24-15 lead in game three tonight.

Huddling up for an EV-W timeout in game one after the Jaguars got hot and went up 18-12.

The mission for earning playoff hardware got off to a great start tonight, when the Jaguars volleyball team swept Eden Valley-Watkins 25-15, 25-19, 25-16 in front of a large, supportive hometown crowd. It's their 24th win of the season against seven losses. EV-W finished 9-17.

Game one started awfully rough for the Jaguars, and after a troublesome 0-6 start, they clawed back to get within one point on an ace tip by Hailey Braegelman for a 7-6 score. An ace serve by Haley Van Beck tied it at 9-9, and a block by Megan Weller put them on top for good 11-10. After the Eagles tied it at 11-11, a 12-2 run followed including some great serving by Randi Gafkjen, kills from Becca Gruber and Taylor Gregory and an ace serve from Weller.

The Jaguars were cooking to start game two, and they built a 5-0 lead before the Eagles knew what hit them. Wouldn't you know it, once EV-W got their bearings straight, they gave a good challenge and cut the lead down to one point, 7-6. An ace block by Jamie Meyer helped the Jaguars get a 5-1 run rolling. EV-W got it down to one point another time, 14-13, but the Jaguars wore them down and had a 21-15 lead going before both teams got four points the rest of the way.

In game three, the Jaguars got out to a 4-0 lead and never let the Eagles get closer than two points from there. Hailey Braegelman served up six straight points for a 14-6 lead. Katelyn Heinze's ace block put the Jaguars up 22-13 before both teams scored three points for the 25-16 final score.

The Jaguars had 11 missed serves on the night. That's one area they will have to tighten up a bit if they want to make a deep push in the playoffs.

Tessa Halvorson readies a serve against the Eagles tonight.

Up next: Bertha-Hewitt at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle high school next Tuesday (Oct. 29) at 6:00pm. The Bears (20-8-2) swept Park Region Conference rival Verndale tonight in a playoff border battle tonight.

Royalton supplied a mini-upset in Sub-Section 5A-South when they beat #2-seed Kimball Area 3-1. The Royals advance to face #1-seeded (the other pod) Browerville in the other semifinal match next Tuesday in Long Prairie. Game scores were 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21.

Browerville ended Upsala's season by game scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-16. The Tigers were regular season champions of the Prairie South Conference.

I have to give a shout-out to the B-B-E Pep Band. You were awesome!

Terrific fan support has been a hallmark of this volleyball season, not unlike what we've seen every fall at B-B-E.

By the way, D-Mac will carry tomorrow night's football game!

Sub-Section 5A-North volleyball scores on Oct. 25:
Nevis 25, 25, 25 - #5 seed Pillager 19, 13, 14
Onamia 3, Isle 1
Sebeka 3, Pine-River Backus 0
Braham 3, Hinckley-Finlayson 0

Area volleyball scores on October 25:
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 3, Montevideo 0
Litchfield 3, Benson 0
New London-Spicer 3, Minnewaska Area 1
Osakis 3, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 0
Melrose Area 3, Holdingford 0
Pierz 3, Little Falls 1
Sauk Centre 3, Staples-Motley 0
Albany 3, HL-W-W 0
Battle Lake 3, West Central Area 2