M1 Wins, Northern Lights Lose at JO Tourney

#2 posting 7.5.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

JUNIOR OLYMPIC MATCHES
Today I traveled down to the Minneapolis Convention Center and watched two high level matches.
At the 17 open level M1 defeated Southwest Illinois in a sweep, but it wasn't a snap sweep at all. M1 had to battle to win game one 25-23. SWI led at 6-3, 15-11 before M1 rallied for four points on Taylor Fieldstad's serve. SWI did nat a 23-21 lead late in the contest. Lauren Wagner delivered a tip kill for a side out and M1's Amy Braun didn't give the ball back. Wanger had a kill to tie the game. Megan Carlson gave M1 the lead and then a hitting error ended game one with M1 up 25-23.

In game two M1 had the lead throughout the contest except at 5-4. Kelsey Brandl and Carlson each had four kills in this 25-20 win. Wagner put down the finla point.

Game three turned out to be a marathon but M1 pulled the game out 28-26. SWI did hold leads of 12-8 early. Later SWI led 22-19. M1 had to use their rally caps again. Brandl got the side out to make it 22-20. Fieldstad served up two points with Brandl finishing with two kills. A lift gave the ball back to SWI. M1 was on the verge at 24-23 on Carlson's serve, but Michelle Bartsch for SWI got the kill for the side out. both teams traded sideouts at that point. At 26 all Wagner had a tip kill to give the ball back to M1. Wagner, just like in game two finished the series with another kill from the right side.

I will have the stats and pictures tomorrow. Right now I am wading through over 300 pictures I took today. It is too bad I can't publish all of them.

In the second game TCA 18-Third Degree beat Northern Lights in five 25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 26-28, 15-13. Many folks around said it was the best game of the tournament by far so far. The fans were five deep around the perimeter of the sport court. I will have more on this tomorrow with photos and stats.

Next up: tomorrow.