State-ranked Irish

Hailey Braegelman is shown setting up the attack early in game two tonight. Lots of pink in the stands!

A powerhouse Maple Lake squad swept our B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team to put a firm grasp on first place in the conference tonight. Losing 3-0 on any night is tough to swallow, and this one is no different. Making that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach hurt worse is that in game one, the Jaguars came back from a 22-21 deficit to go up 24-22 on a kill by Kinlee Swanson, an Irish net violation and another kill to bring game point. Maple Lake got a kill, and then the Jaguars committed three straight errors to hand the Irish a 26-24 win. Ouch.

The Irish, ranked sixth in Class 2A and a favorite to win Section 5AA in November, then won the next two games 25-18, 25-20.

Central Minnesota Conference volleyball scores on Oct. 9:
Pierz 3, Rockford Area 0

Here's video from game three tonight:


Next is the Alexandria tournament on Saturday. The Jaguars (14-8) start out with a very tough, state-ranked (Class 3A) North St. Paul team at 9 a.m. at the brand new Alexandria Area high school. The Polars are ranked fifth in Class 3A and have a 20-2 overall record.


Area volleyball scores on October 9:
Benson 3, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 0
Rocori 3, Alexandria 0
Sebeka 3, New York Mills 0
Verndale 3, Pillager 0
Browerville 3, Swanville 0
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 3, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 0 (W/H-N clinches the Pheasant Conference title with the sweep)