Step VII: JAGUARS WIN on final day of STATE!

The B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team is bringing home bronze medals after finishing with a win at the Class 1A state tournament today. They defeated upstart Ada-Borup West in grand fashion, a 3-0 sweep, to finish an incredible season with a 26-6 record. They can be incredibly proud to start the season unranked and finish with the state third place trophy!

Here's the postmatch medals/trophy ceremony today in Saint Paul:


During B-B-E's press conference yesterday after Mayer Lutheran overcame the Jaguars in the state semifinals, sophomore hitter Macey Roering spoke about the mindset held by the team after their terrific effort came up short in their bid to get to the championship, "It's really fun to be here. It's still okay, we're gonna bounce back. We're still having fun here."

That positive mindset translated into a monster effort against No. 6-seeded Ada-Borup West this afternoon. The Cougars already had one big upset in the tournament when they defeated No. 3-seeded Fillmore Central 3-1 in Thursday's quarterfinals. They never got on track against B-B-E, who put up a strong block and used their quick offense to make it difficult for Ada-Borup West's back row.

The welcome-home ceremony will take place TONIGHT at the high school in Belgrade between 6 and 7 p.m. The exact time is up in the air right now. Stay tuned.

In the Class 1A state championship this afternoon, Mayer Lutheran won 25-17 in game one against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton. UPDATE: in game two, Mayer Lutheran holds a 21-11 lead.

In the Class 2A state volleyball tournament, New London-Spicer lost in a sweep yesterday to Southwest Christian (a Metro private school) to finish a fine season 17-12 overall. The Wildcats, 3-5 in the Wright County West Conference in a tie for fifth place, earned a repeat trip to state after suffering huge graduation losses last spring.

Today, in the Class 2A third-place match, New Life Academy of Woodbury defeated Albany. That's all I have for information.

In the Class 1A state finals: Mayer Lutheran defeated R-T-R in a 3-0 sweep. The Knights (30-6) put up a terrific fight in the final set, but it was not enough to overcome a richly-talented Crusaders squad. R-T-R was gunning for another state title after they won their school's first volleyball state championship in 2023.

I won't get more on this blog post until later tonight! Now it's time to get some interviews done here at Grand Casino Arena. We've all gotta watch the clock to plan for the drive home!

ANNOUNCEMENT: the welcome home should start at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the High School...Belgrade. I would arrive a little before that, my advice. Time to make tracks west!!!