AAA State Championship: Shakopee/Eastview

#8 posting 11.8.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

SHAKOPEE sabers 3, EASTVIEW lightning 1
(26-24, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22)

Shakopee won their back to back AAA championship with a four set win over Eastview. These two teams opened the season and closed the season. This was the third time these two teams faced each other. Every time the Sabers came out on top. Tonight was no different. The key part in this match came in the first set. Shakopee had a 23-19 advantage, but Eastview struck for five straight points to stand on the edge with a 24-23 lead. Shakopee held off one set point with a kill by Ashley Wittman, one of her 32 on the night, and then Wittman served up the final two points.
More to come

rotation, player, position, aces-blocks-kills--totals
SHAKOPEE
1. Elizabeth Benusa, 2010, OH 0-0-11------11
2. Mollie Geske, 2010, L 1-0-0-----1
2fr: Jean Theis, 2010, MH 0-1-6-----7
3. Amelia Yager, 2010, S 2-0-1------3
3fr: Megan Westlund, 2011, S 0-0-3-----3
4. Ashley Wittman, 2010, OH 1-1.5-32-----34.5
5. Emily Schroers, 2011, DS 0-0-0-----0
6. Mariah Monnens, 2010, RH 0-1.5-3----4.5
6. Bri Duff, 2009, RH 0-0-0-----0
totals: 4-6-58-------68 points, 27 points on Eastview errors

EASTVIEW
1. Anna Olson, 2009, S 0-1-2----3
2. Kayla Joyce, 2009, DS 1-0-0-----1
2fr: Ashley Murtha, 2011, OH 0-0-14----14
3. Lauren Grant, 2010, MH 3-1.5-18-----22.5
3br: Kaiti Wachter, 2009, L
4. Stacy Kuhlmann, 2009, DS 0-0-0----0
4fr: Kelsey Shile, 2011, RH 0-0.5-8----8.5
5. Karlee Lursen, 2009, OH 0-0-9----9
6. Kaiti Wachter, 2009, L 0-0-0-----0
6fr: Steph Kent, 2009, MH 0-1-12----13
totals: 4-4-63------71 points, 22 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Ashley Wittman

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/fbso attempts; fbso %; points, % earned; % allowed
Shakopee 39/59-.661; .716; .237
Eastview 37/59-.627; .763; .284
Runs 3+: Eastview 11, Shakopee 9
Longest string: Shakopee 6, Eastview 5
Missed Serves: Eastview 7, Shakopee 3
Time Out %: Shakopee 2/5-.400; Eastview 1/5-.200

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Benusa 21-18 .538
2. Geske 19-16 .543
3. Yager 15-18 .455
4. Wittman 14-17 .452
5. Schroers 14-12 .538
6. Monnens/Duff 12-12 .500
totals: 95-93 .505

EASTVIEW
1. Olson 17-14 .548
2. Joyce 15-20 .429
3. Grant 20-16 .556
4. Kuhlmann 14-12 .538
5. Lursen 14-16 .467
6. Wachter 13-17 .433
totals: 93-95 .495

RACE TO:
Set: 5 10 15 20 25
set 1 E S S S S
set 2 S E S E E
set 3 S S S S S
set 4 S S S S S

BIGGEST LEAD
Team: 1 2 3 4
Shakopee 6 4 5 4
Eastview 1 6 2 1

Next up: tomorrow morning

Playoff Out & About: Shakopee/Chaska

#7 posting 11.1.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

SECTION 2AAA
Championship
SHAKOPEE sabers 3, CHASKA hawks 1
(25-21, 25-27, 25-22, 25-21)

In a battle of heavyweights it was defending AAA champ and current #1 team Shakopee stopping Chaska (AAA champ in 2005 and 2006) in four. As fitting a championship match this contest was memorable with both teams taking the best hits and continuing action. Sets lasted 35 minutes. The two met earlier in the year in the Apple Valley tournament with the Sabers winning 2-0. Ashley Wittman had 37 points for the Sabers. Shakopee is probably the odds on favorite to be the number one seed in the upcoming state tournament. The Sabers are 28-2. Chaska finished 24-5.

Again the energy was crackling as the stands were full. Fans were on the edge of their seats in each set. Each set was in doubt with margins two points of less when the score was north of 20. In three of those occasions the Sabers finished with either a 3-1 run or 3-0 run. Chaska held off set point with the Sabers for their only victory in set two. The odd fact in this contest---only two Shakopee rotations scored more than they allowed. Chaska had three rotations above .500. But Shakopee's second rotation---Mollie Geske's serve----racked up 30% of the Shakopee points on the night. The best Chaska rotation provided 21% of their points.

Shakopee broke free from an 8 all tie in the first set with a six point burst. Chaska took a time out trying to stop the momentum at 12-8, but Jean Theis added two kills after the break to make it 14-8. That was to be the Sabers biggest lead of the entire night. Chaska inched back into the contest with the help of the blocking game. Amanda Unze and Chelsie Stahl each had a block to cut the margin to 15-12. Neither team had a big run the rest of the way. Also neither team had a door slamming FBSO game. Chaska did have a string of four straight FBSO, but Shakopee found a way to get points on the next three serves as the race to 25 intensified. Chaska had two self inflicted errors for Saber points 21 and 22 which forced a Hawk time out 22-18. Unze delivered a side out block and then Bekah Saugen added a kill to cut the margin to 22-20. Ashley Wittman put down a kill and then finished the set with a FBSO kill. Wittman had 9 points in the first set. The odd thing was Chaska out "earned" Shakopee 17-15. The six point run, and the two points at 21/22 were key for the Sabers win in set one.

Chaska had strong starts in each of the remaining sets---none better than in set two with a five point run to lead 5-2. Stahl delivered two blocks in the run. Shakopee recovered and pulled ahead 10-9 after a three point run. Chaska had another three point run to take the lead 14-12. The Hawks didn't keep it long with three straight hitting errors. Side outs ruled the next five points. Chaska inched ahead at 18-17 after an overpass kill by Ellen Degler. Shakopee had their third three point run to go ahead 21-19. The Sabers were on the cusp of victory after a Wittman kill gave them a 24-23 lead. On set point the Sabers were in the net. It was Chaska's turn to have set point at 25-24 after a Shakopee time out. Wittman postponed the Hawks celebration to tie it at 25. Chaska got the side out with a Stahl kill. The second set ended on the second set point on Amanda Konetchy's kill.

Shakopee trailed 10-8 when they went on a 7 point run, 6 on Mollie Geske's serve. Wittman had four points in the run which Chaska tried to stop with a time out at 13-10. Chaska had a surge of their own with four straight points to close to 16-15. That forced a Saber time out. Chaska tied the game at 20 on an ace by Konetchy. Shakopee got a kill from Jean Theis for a side out. A Wittman kill forced a Chaska time out. Chaska did get a side out kill from Shelby Peterson to make it 22-21. Again Wittman knocked down two kills to put the Sabers at match point. The Hawks held for one point on a kill by Unze. Wittman again delivered the set ending kill. Again the key factors for the Sabers---a major run of 7 points and Wittman had 10 points.

It was Chaska enjoying their biggest lead of the night at 21-8 when Shakopee took a time out. Two side outs later Mollie Geske stepped to the service line and went to town. Shakopee went off on an 9 point run (including the side out kill by Wittman). That was the back breaker. A four point lead turned into to a five point deficit. Wittman had five of the points in that run. Chaska wasn't done yet. They scrambled back to trail 21-20 after a 5-2 run three kills by Peterson. That prompted a Saber time out. At the time Wittman was in the back row for the second of three cycles. The Sabers got breathing room with a side out kill by Mariah Monnens. Peterson delivered the last Hawk point and then Elizabeth Benusa and Wittman put down kills followed by a Benusa ace to punch their ticket to state. The Sabers have a chance to defend.

In all three Shakopee wins there was a common pattern----one run that went on longer than usual---6 to 9 points---and Wittman unleashed. In the Shakopee loss in the second set the runs were only the garden variety three, not the lengthy ones that made it hard for the Hawks to recover. Also Wittman only had 7 points in the second set compared to 9-10-11 in sets 1, 3, and 4.

you can see the entire Shakopee vs Chaska photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com

rotation, player, position, aces-blocks-kills--totals
SHAKOPEE
1. Elizabeth Benusa, 2010, OH 2-0-9------11
2. Mollie Geske, 2010, L 1-0-0------1
2fr: Jean Theis, 2010, MH 0-1-4----5
3. Amelia Yager, 2010, S 0-0-2-----2
3fr: Megan Westlund, 2011, S 0-0-2------2
4. Ashley Wittman, 2010, OH 1-1-35-----37
5. Emily Schroers, 2011, DS 0-0-0------0
5fr: Claire Sames, 2012, MH 0-2-4-----6
6. Mariah Monnens, 2010, RH 1-1-8-----10
totals: 5-5-64------74 points, 26 points on Chaska errors

CHASKA
1. Shelby Peterson, 2010, OH 1-1-10----12
2. Kenzie Niesche, 2009, L 2-0-0------2
2fr: Ellen Degler, 2010, MH 0-1-5-----6
3. Maggie Finkel, 2009, DS 0-0-0-----0
3fr: Amanda Unze, 2009, RH 0-2-9-----11
4. Bekah Saugen, 2010, OH 0-2-6----8
4. Lynn Bielski, 2010, OH 0-0-1------1
5. Megan Kettler, 2010, DS 0-0-0-----0
5fr: Chelsie Stahl, 2011, MH 1-6-13-----20
6. Amanda Konetchy, 2010, S 1-0-2----3
totals: 5-12-46-------63 points, 28 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Ashley Wittman 12 FBSO kills, two set point finishes and 11 points in the 4th set.

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/fbso attempts; fbso %; points, % earned; % allowed
Shakopee 32/56-.571; .740; .308
Chaska 33/55--.600; .692; .260
Runs 3+: Shakopee 9, Chaska 9
Longest string: Shakopee 9, Chaska 5
Missed Serves: Chaska 4, Shakopee 2
Time Out %: Shakopee 4/4-1.000; Chaska 3/6-.500

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Benusa 24-20 .545
2. Geske 30-14 .682
3. Yager 12-16 .429
4. Wittman 12-12 .500
5. Schroers 9-13 .409
6. Monnens 13-16 .448
totals: 100-91 .523

CHASKA
1, Peterson 18-25 .419
2. Niesche 19-23 .452
3. Finkel 14-12 .538
4. Saugen 13-12 .520
5. Kettler 13-9 .591
6. Konetchy 14-19 .424
totals: 91-100 .476

RACE TO:
Set: 5 10 15 20 25
set 1 S S S S S
set 2 C S S S C*
set 3 S C S S S
set 4 C C S S S
*won with extra points

BIGGEST LEAD
Team 1 2 3 4
Shakopee 6 3 5 5
Chaska 0 3 2 4

Next up: tomorrow morning

Out & About: Shakopee/Eden Prairie

#3 posting 9.9.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

SHAKOPEE sabers 3, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 1
(23-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-17)

2AAA is one of the toughest, if not the toughest sections in the state with four teams in the top 10 this week. Tonight's match was important, not only for the polls, but also for post season pairings. #2 Shakopee beat #9 Eden Prairie in a 2AAA match up tonight at EP. The game was delayed until 8:01 pm (official time) because of the Minnesota primary election. Ashley Wittman had another huge night with 40 points in the win for Shakopee--- 39 were kills.

Shakopee had to overcome a first game loss to get the win. The Sabers trailed 12-10 before erupting on a 10-2 run to lead 20-14. Wittman was already piling up the kills with 10 of the Shako points already. EP stopped a four point run with a time out. With the rotations, Wittman found her self the next server. With The cannon in the back row, Shakopee struggled to find their rhythm. They only scored two more points the rest of the way, while EP finished with a 9-1 run. Shakopee tried to stop the onslaught with a time out when they led 22-21. They did get a side out, but couldn't close the deal with Wittman in the back row.

In the second game the Sabers didn't have the same issues. The issue in this game was the lack of a FBSO game for EP. Shakopee had eight service chances and scored off six of them. Of those six they scored more than two points on four (the last server only had one point needed for 24 for the Sabers.) This was the biggest margin win for Shakopee and strangely enough the only game where Wittman had five kills.

The pendulum switched back to the Eagles. They had a 9-4 advantage after a 8-1 run. Katie Froehle had four kills in the streak. Once again Wittman had moved to the back row. EP scored four points on that opportunity. Shakopee did start a 7-2 run to take a 13-11 lead. EP did tie it at 13. Shakopee stretched the lead out to 19-15. EP got some momentum back, again when Wittman moved to the back line. The Eagles tied the game up at 20. The key break point in the match came on the next ball. EP pushed the ball into the net for a hard fought point, but that slight opportunity was all the Sabers needed. Wittman soon moved back to the front and she was important in getting quality points in the end.

Shakopee used the momentum to build a 5-0 lead to start the fourth game. A missed serve returned the ball back to EP. They put three more points on the board to trail 5-4. But Wittman was a whirlwind racking up six of the next eight Shakopee points. EP took a time out at 13-6 and regained their composure. Two EP runs later the contest was tied at 16. Shakopee did have two missed serves in the EP comeback. As you may have guessed the EP run started with Wittman in the back row. It continued for four more points as she moved into the front. The game was knotted up at 16 when a Wittman kill returned the ball to Shakopee. After that Shako finished with a 9-1 run with Wittman hammering home 7 kills.

You can see the entire Shakopee vs Eden Prairie photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com.

rotation, player, (year) position, aces-blocks-kills---totals
SHAKOPEE
1. Elizabeth Benusa (2010) OH 3-0-6---9
2. Mollie Geske (2010) L 0-0-0----0
2fr: Jean Theis (2010) MH 0-4-6---10
3. Amelia Yager (2010) S 0-0-0---0
3fr: Bri Duff (2009) RH 0-0.5-1---1.5
4. Ashley Wittman (2010) 0-1-39----40
5. Claire Sames (2012) MH 0-1-2----3
6. Megan Westlund (2011) S 0-0-0----0
6fr: Mariah Monnens (2011) rh 0-1.5-2---3.5
totals: 3-8-56---67 points, 30 points on EP errors

EDEN PRAIRIE
1. Claire Willeck (2011) MB 0-2-1----3
2. Nicole Garbowicz (2009) DS 0-0-0---0
2fr: Kathleen Krause (2009) RS 0-0-2----2
3. Natalie Carlson (2011) OH 2-0-6---8
3. Jamie Nichols (2010) OH 0-0-0---0
3br: Jackee Cairncross (2009) DS 0-0-0---0
4. Taylor Simpson (2010) MB 0-0-5---5
5. Hayley Buchanan (2009) S 1-0-0----1
6. Katie Froehle (2010) OH 1-1-12---14
totals: 4-3-26----33 points, 44 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Ashley Wittman a top 40 night

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/fbso attempts; fbso %; points, % earned; % allowed
Shakopee 24/40--.600; 98; .684; .571
Eden Prairie 16/40---.400; 77; .429; .306
Runs 3+: Shakopee 13, EP 12
Longest string: Shakopee 6; EP 5
Missed Serves: Shakopee 9, EP 4
Time Out %: EP 4/7--.571; Shakopee 1/4--.250

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Benusa 26-18 .591
2. Geske 28-9 .757
3. Yager 17-9 .654
4. Wittman 11-19 .367
5. Sames 10-13 .435
6. Westlund 6-9 .400
totals: 98-77 .560
When Wittman is in the front row Shakopee scored 77 points. When she is in the back row they scored 27.

EDEN PRAIRIE
1. Willeck 11-27 .289
2. Garbowicz 16-24 .400
3. Carlson 10-17 .370
4. Simpson 14-13 .519
5. Buchanan 18-7 .720
6. Froehle 8-10 .444
totals: 77-98 .440

RACE TO:
Game: 5 10 15 20 25
game 1 S E S S E
game 2 S S S S S
game 3 E E S S S
game 4 S S S S S

BIGGEST LEAD
Team: 1 2 3 4
Shakopee 6 12 4 8
Eden Prairie 2 0 5 0

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Shakopee/Eastview

#3 posting 8.22.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

SHAKOPEE sabers 3, EASTVIEW lightning 1
(25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16)

In a battle of #2 and #3 in class AAA it was home team #2 Shakopee winning the season opener over the Eastview Lightning 3-1. It is a new era for the Sabers with Jessica Menden, and Maggie Geske moving on. Of course they have outside hitter Ashley Wittman and libero Mollie Geske returning for the defending AAA State champs. Eastview has many of the pieces from last year back in place. In keeping with the 22 standard set last night, Wittman had 22 kills and 26 points on the night for the Sabers.

Eastview seized advantage early with a six point run, five on the mysterious #12's serve. Lauren Grant had three kills in the first 9 points for Eastview. The Lightning led 9-3 at that point. Shakopee regained their side out game after that with 11 straight first ball side outs. With the Lightning bottled up the Sabers chipped away at the lead. Shakopee didn't get the lead again until 16-15 after an Eastview lift. Eastview took a time out after Shako took a 20-17 lead. The Sabers maintained a two-three lead the rest of the way.

Game two was almost a flip of game one--Shakopee had the advantage early and Eastview closed hard. Shako won the race to 5, 10 and 15. Neither team was that far away from each other. The biggest lead came at the start with the Sabers up 4-1. Eastview broke free from a 16 all tie with four straight points, two on Karlee Lursen kills to lead 20-16. Lursen had six kills overall in game two. Shakopee answered with three straight forcing a Lightning time out. That stopped the momentum with a block by Grant. The key in game two was the FBSO for Eastview-at the start of this game it was 2/7, in the second half of the game they were 5/6.

Once again the momentum shifted in game three. Just as in the previous games the team that got the jump was passed up. Shakopee served out of order which caused a big delay. After the paperwork and scores were corrected (and a time out due to confusion on the Saber receive formation) Eastview led 14-10. That only got the Sabers competitive juices flowing. After that ordeal they closed with a 15-7 run. Their first lead came a run of three capped by two back line aces by Wittman 18-16. That forced an Eastview time out. Just as in the previous games the TO did the job as Grant got the ball back on an overpass kill. The Lightning tied the game at 20 after a block by Steph Kent. Shakopee regained the lead after a deft setter dump by Megan Westlund. Eastview had one more serve, but they hit the net and then two hitting errors later Shako was up 2-1. For the match Eastview missed 12 serves.

The fourth game was a nip and tuck affair with neither team getting a big advantage. That all broke open with a Shakopee 8 point run with three of those points coming on Jen Theis kills. For the first time all night Eastview's time out magic evaporated. The Lightning time outs at 19-15 and 22-15 couldn't stop the Shako Express. Fittingly Wittman put the final ball down capping a 22 kill night.

Notes: It was my first time at the Shakopee gym--the lighting was very good, more schools need to upgrade their lights. The crowd was big with just one side of the bleachers pulled. Yesterday at Andover both sides were pulled. We made the mistake of sitting in the student body section early. After the first game we migrated to the upper altitudes.

You can see the entire Shakopee vs Eastview photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com. Photos by Coach Teas.

rotation, player, (year) position, aces-blocks-kills---totals
SHAKOPEE
1. Elizabeth Benusa (2010) OH 1-0-7---8
1. Emily Schroers (2011) DS 1-0-0---1
2. Mollie Geske (2010) L 0-0-0---0
2fr: Jean Theis (2010) MB 0-1.5-8---9.5
3. Megan Westlund (2011) S 0-0.5-2---2.5
4. Ashley Wittman (2010) OH 2-2-22---26
5. Mariah Monnens (2010) MB 0-0.5-3---3.5
5br: Mollie Geske
6br: Bri Duff (2009) DS 0-0-0---0
6fr: Claire Sames (2012) RS 0-0.5-2---2.5
totals: 4-5-44---53 points, 43 points on Eastview errors

EASTVIEW
1. Anna Olson (2009) S 0-0-0----0
2. Ashley Murtha (2011) OH 1-0-9---10
3. Steph Kent (2009) MH 1-4-3---8
3br: Kaiti Wachter (2009) L
4br: #12 ???? (???) DS 1-0-0----1
4fr: Kelsey Shile (2011) RS 0-1-10---11
5. Karlee Lursen (2009) OH 3-0-12---15
6fr: Lauren Grant (2010) MH 0-2-17---19
6br: Kaiti Wachter (2009) L 0-0-0----0
totals: 6-7-51---64 points, 20 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Ashley Wittman

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/fbso attempts; fbso %; points, % earned; % allowed
Shakopee 34/55-.618; 96; .552; .238
Eastview 29/55-.527; .762; .448
Runs 3+: Shakopee 9, Eastview 6
Longest run: Shakopee 8, Eastview 6
Missed Serves: Eastview 12, Shakopee 2
Time Out %: Eastview 5/7-.714; Shakopee 0/3-.000

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Benusa 26-13---.667
2. Geske 20-13---.606
3. Westlund 10-11---.476
4. Wittman 13-22---.371
5. Monnens 13-13----.500
6. Duff 14-12---.538
totals: 96-84---.533

EASTVIEW
1. Olson 12-27---.308
2. Murtha 13-14---.481
3. Kent 12-12 ---.500
4. #12 ??? 19-15 .559
5. Lurson 14-11 .560
6. Wachter 14-17 .452
totals: 84-96---.467

race to 5-10-15-20-25
game 1 E E E S S
game 2 S S S E E
game 3 E E E S S
game 4 S S S S S

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Shakopee/Lakeville North

#9 posting 9.22.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

APPLE VALLEY TOURNAMENT
Championship
SHAKOPEE sabers 2, LAKEVILLE NORTH panthers 1
(23-25, 25-23, 15-12)

In a true heavyweight battle #2 Shakopee topped #1 Lakeville North in three. LN rallied from a 17-15 deficit to go ahead 22-20 in game one. Shakopee took the punch and had a counter. They tied it at 23 on an overpass kill by Mariah Monnens. LN took a break and when they returned outside hitter Amy Braun put down two kills. She had six kills in the first game.

It was side out heaven in game two with 10 straight side outs. The first points scored on a serve----a rotation error on LN. The game then morphed into a sequence of five straight rotations with runs of three. That propelled Shakopee to a 17-14 lead. Lakeville North answered the challenge with a 6-3 run to tie the game. Maggie Geske helped lift Shakopee to a 23-20 margin forcing LN to call a time out at 22-20. LN had one last run, but other than the side out kill by Kelsey Brandl, the points were on Shakopee errors. After the Panthers tied the game at 23 Shakopee took a time out. Wittman got the vital side out and then powered it down on Mollie Geske's serve.

In the first five servers in the third game Shakopee was able to get the fbso 4/5 times, LN 1/5 times. That proved to be the difference maker. There was only one run in game three with Shakopee getting two points off LN errors. LN took the a time out at 9-5. Shakopee didn't hesitate to call a time out at 10-6 after a hitting error. It didn't work out Shakopee's way with another hitting error and LN was off the mat ready to challenge. The game moved into side out mode for the next seven servers. That wasn't helping LN's cause as Shakopee moved to the verge at 14-10. Braun nailed two kills to make it 14-12. Shakopee had to talk about it and the break may have iced Ellen Fox who served it deep for the final point. The FBSO difference in game three--Shakopee 7/10 .700; LN 5/9 .556.

photos: #1 Ashley Wittman goes up for an attack. Wittman had 21 kills. #2 Jessica Menden and Elizabeth Benusa share a dig. photos by kja

SHAKOPEE
1. Jessica Menden, S 0-0-2----2
2. Maggie Geske, OH 0-0.5-11--11.5
3. Mollie Geske, L 1-0-0----1
3fr Jean Theis, MH 0-0-0---0
4. Elizabeth Benusa, RH 1-0-7---8
5. Ashley Wittman, OH 0-0-21----21
6. Mariah Monnens, MH 0-1.5-1---2.5
totals: 2-2-42----46 points; 17 points on Lakeville North errors

LAKEVILLE NORTH
1. Taylor Fieldsted, L 0-0-0----0
1fr Brook Lewko, MH 0-0.5-8---8.5
2 Lindsey Weaver, DS 0-0-0----0
2fr Kristina Hanf, RH 0-0-1----1
3. Kayla Kirby, DS 0-0-0----0
3fr Kristen Zeise, OH 0-0-1---1
4. Kelsey Brandl, MH 0-1-13----14
4 Ellen Fox, Server (g2, 3) 0-0-0-----0
5 Leah Johnson, S 0-0-1----1
6. Amy Braun, OH 1-0.5-14----15.5
totals: 1-2-38----41 points, 19 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Jessica Menden. She is what I call a Mary Tyler Moore player. She took nothing plays and suddenly made it seem all worthwhile.

BY THE NUMBERS
Shakopee 23/40; .575; 63; .730; .317
Lakeville North 21/39; .538; 60; .683; .270
3+ runs: Shakopee 6, Lakeville North 5
missed serves: Shakopee 3, Lakeville North 3

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1 Menden 12-12 .500
2. Ma. Geske 14-12 .538
3. Mo. Geske 12-12 .500
4. Benusa 10-8 .556
5. Wittman 7-8 .467
6. Monnens 8-8 .500
totals: 63-60 .512

LAKEVILLE NORTH
1. Fieldsted 11-11 .500
2. Weaver 12-14 .462
3. Kirby 11-14 .440
4. Brandl/Fox 10-11 .476
5. Johnson 8-7 .533
6. Braun 8-6 .571
totals: 60-63 .488

I saw both teams earlier in the week on Monday and Tuesday. A good crowd to watch 1 vs 2.

next up: tomorrow morning

Out & About: Shakopee/Marshall

#7 posting 9.22.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

APPLE VALLEY TOURNAMENT
semifinals
SHAKOPEE sabers 2, MARSHALL tigers 0
(25-13, 25-22)

Shakopee moved on with a sweep over Marshall. Shakopee broke free from a lead of one point at 8-7 with a 13-3 run.

It was a different story in game two. Marshall jumped out early 5-1 and Shakopee was forced to use a time out. Ashley Wittman got the side out for the Sabers. Two Shakopee servers later and the game was tied at six. Marshall was the first to move off the dime with three straight points to make it 18-16 when Shakopee had to take another time out. This time Maggie Geske nailed the kill to stop the momentum. Shakopee finished up game two with a 9-4 run. The Sabers didn't take the lead until a Wittman kill made it 21-20. Wittman had three kills in the final five points for 10 kills in the second game. She had 12 for the match.

photos: #1 Marshall's Shay Birath in the aftermath of a dig. #2. Shakopee's Jessica Menden during her jump serve. photos by kja

SHAKOPEE
1. Jessica Menden, S 1-0.5-1---2.5
2. Maggie Geske, OH 1-0-8----9
3. Mollie Geske, L 1-0-0----1
3fr Jean Theis, MH 0-2.5-4---6.5
4 Elizabeth Benusa, RH 1-0-4---5
5 Ashley Wittman, OH 1-0.5-12----13.5
6 Mariah Monnens, MH 1-0.5-0---1.5
totals: 6-4-29----39 points; 11 on Marshall errors

MARSHALL
1. Shay Birath, L 0-0-0----0
1fr Tina Tauer, MH 0-1-1----1
2 Kellie Ellefson, DS 0-0-0---0
2fr Kayla Wallerich 0-0-3---3
3 Hope Weilage, OH 0-1-3---4
4 Anna Full, MH 0-1.5-6---7.5
5 Karli Vandeputter, DS 0-0-0---0
5fr Kelsey Deragisch, S 0-0-1---1
6 Rachel Westby, OH 1-0.5-4---5.5
totals: 1-4-18----23 points, 12 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Ashley Wittman

BY THE NUMBERS
Shakopee 18/25; .720; 50; .780; .343
Marshall 10/24; .417; 35; .657; .220
3+ runs: Shakopee 8, Marshall 3
missed serves: Shakopee 5, Marshall 1
Marshall tightened up the FBSO game in game 2. They had 8 fbso in game two on 15 attempts compared to only 2/9 in game one.

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Menden 9-6 .600
2. Ma. Geske 10-9 .526
3. Mo. Geske 9-5 .643
4. Benusa 7-6 .538
5. Wittman 6-5 .545
6. Monnens 9-4 .692
totals: 50-35 .588

MARSHALL
1. Birath 6-8 .429
2 Ellefson 6-10 .375
3. Weilage 9-9 .500
4. Full 3-9 .250
5. Vandeputter 6-6 .500
6. Westby 5-8 .385
totals: 35-50 .412

Next up: 3rd place game

Out & About: Shakopee/Eastview

#3 posting 9.17.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

SHAKOPEE Sabers 3, EASTVIEW lightning 1
(25-16, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21)

In a battle of top AAA top 10 volleyball teams it was #2 Shakopee picking up a road win against #8 Eastview of the Lake conference. Texas Christian recruit Jessica Menden ran the show for Shakopee delivering the ball to outsides Ashley Wittman (19 kills) and Maggie Geske (18 kills). Eastview also had a pair of double digit killers with Lauren Grant with 16 and Karlee Lursen notching 14.

In game one it was Shakopee middle Jean Theis that set the tempo with a kill followed by two blocks for a quick 3-0 Saber lead. Shakopee had three runs of 3 early and led 12-7 when Eastview took a time out. The Sabers added one more point before the Lightning got the side out. Eastview cut the margin to 14-12, but missed serves stopped their momentum. Shakopee had their fourth run, this time four points on the side out & three service points on Mollie Geske's serve, to make it 20-13. Another Eastview time out stopped the run, but couldn't stop the inevitable.

Game two was the tightest and provided the Lightning with their only win of the night. First Eastview adjusted their line up by moving their 4th rotation to their first spot. That twist propelled the Lightning to a 5-2 leaf on Brie Johnson's serve. Lauren Grant had a couple of kills to get things moving. Shakopee regained the lead, if only momentarily, at 12-11 during a four point service run by Wittman. Three of those points were Eastview hitting errors. Eastview edged back in front thanks to two Shakopee hitting errors. Neither team had their side out game revved up in this game as they traded chunks of points two, three at a time. As it was Shakopee wasn't quite done and rallied from a 19-17 deficit with three points to go up 20-19. A Grant slide kill gave the ball back to Eastview. The proceeded to run off four straight on Kaiti Wachter's serve, three on Shakopee hitting errors. Shakopee wasn't done yet with a Eastview hitting error delivering the ball back to the Sabers. Bri Duff put the Sabers within striking distance at 24-23. Eastview's Karlee Lursen tied the series up at one apiece on a kill.

Game three was tight until an 8-1 run by Shakopee put the Sabers up 19-14. Ashley Wittman had a side out kill and then the first two kills in a four point service run by Duff. Eastview never generated any runs in this game. The side out factor absent in game two reappeared for both teams. Shakopee had six straight first ball side outs. Also in this game Shakopee's Maggie Geske started connecting on her down balls. She had four kills in the first two games combined, while in this game she had five kills, same as Wittman.

In the final game Shakopee had a pair of runs early to take an 8-5 lead while stringing together seven straight first ball side outs after the first Eastview service. Maggie Geske continued her hot hitting with nine kills in this game. Shakopee's biggest lead came at 23-18 after a three point run. Eastview got the ball back on a side out kill by Kent. Anna Olson then served up two points to cut the margin to 23-21. The one two punch of Wittman and Maggie Geske ended it with two kills.

photos: #1 Shakopee's Maggie Geske (7 white) reaches for the ball on the outside. #2. Jessica Menden (12 white) with a back jump set. photos by kja

SHAKOPEE
rotation, player, position, aces-blocks-kills-totals
1 Jessica Menden, S 1-0-4----5 gets to the ball, makes plays out of nothing. good control
2 Maggie Geske, OH 0-0-18----18 had 14 kills in the last two games
3 Mollie Geske, L 0-0-0-----0
3fr Jean Theis, MH 0-2-4---6 effective early at the net.
4 Elizabeth Benusa, RH 0-0-3----3
4 Bri Duff, RH 0-1-1-----2
5 Ashley Wittman, OH 0-2-19----21 a force on the outside.
6 Mariah Monnens, MH 0-2-4---6
6br Mollie Geske, L
totals: 1-7-53-----61 points, 37 points on Eastview errors

EASTVIEW
Eastview started this way in game one, but then put Steph Kent (rotation 4) as their 1st rotation the rest of the night.
1. Kaiti Wachter, L 1-0-0----1
1fr Lauren Grant, MH 0-3-16---19 runs the slide
2. Anna Olson, S 2-0-0----2
3. Karlee Lursen, OH 0-0-14---14
4. Steph Kent, MH 0-2-8---10
4br Kaiti Wachter, L
5. Brie Johnson, DS 0-0-0----0
5fr Brianna Pieschel, OH 0-0-6----6
6. Kayla Joyce, DS 0-0-1----1
6fr Kelsey Schile, RH 0-0-3----3
totals: 3-5-48-----56 points, 27 points on Shakopee errors

TRENCH PLAYER
Jessica Menden

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/fbso chances; fbso %; points; % earned; % allowed
Shakopee 30/52; .577; 98; .622; .325
Eastview 26/52; .500; 83; .675; .378
3+ Runs: Shakopee 14, Eastview 6
Missed Serves: Shakopee 3, Eastview 13

ROTATIONS
SHAKOPEE
1. Menden 19-20 .487
2. Ma. Geske 16-15 .516
3. Mo. Geske 19-15 .559
4. Duff 18-13 .581
5. Wittman 16-11 .593
6. Monnens 10-9 ..526
totals: 98-83 .541

EASTVIEW
1. Wachter 16-19 .457
2. Olson 13-17 .433
3. Lursen 11-12 .478
4. Kent 12-17 .414
5. Johnson 18-16 .529
6. Joyce 13-17 .433
totals: 83-98 .459

Next up: tomorrow morning

Everything New

#1 posting 8.22.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Shakopee has a new high school and the volleyball team is seen practicing in the article in the StarTribune South edition. They are already talking about a second high school in the Shakopee District. Shakopee is #2 in the AAA poll. From the Shakopee Valley News.

NEW OLD COACH
Sarah Herlofsky is back as the new volleyball coach at Spring Lake Park. She originally coached at SLP in 1997 and 98. She has a Q&A session in the StarTribune North edition.

COACHES SHOW
Concordia St. Paul will hold their first coaches show this fall on Thursday at 1:30. You can listen on the web.

Thanks to the readers for the help in getting this site rolling. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow (but lately I have been getting an afternoon posting up if new warrants).