Belle Plaine Volleyball Slides Past Kenyon-Wanamingo

The top-ranked Belle Plaine Tigers did not let a Kenyon-Wanamingo first set win Saturday derail their goal of state tournament berth.

The first set was one for the ages between the two teams. It ended with a Kenyon-Wanamingo 29-27 win and things were looking very good for the Knights.

Junior outside hitter Mara Quam collected five kills in the set and junior middle hitter Megan Flom three. Both also had ace serves in the victory.

But credit Belle Plaine with making adjustments.

The Tigers' outstanding junior Mariena Hayden typically dominates in matches and she was very good again, but the Knights were able to pick up a number of her fast-paced balls on both kill attempts and serves.

It was the slide executed primarily to senior middle hitter Kaylee Hentges that doomed the Knights.

Hentges joined Hayden with double-digit kills in the match.

Meanwhile Quam and Flom were silenced in the second set when Belle Plaine ran away with a 25-13 win and took away any momentum Kenyon-Wanamingo gained with their first-set victory.

Quam had no kills in the second set and Flom just two. In the third set, the Knights led 6-4 when Belle Plaine went on a 9-0 run and won 25-20.

Both teams had numerous service errors in an ugly fourth set that Belle Plaine captured 25-16.

Quam and Flom did finish the night with double-digit kills, but the Knights simply couldn't string many runs together to match the Tigers.

Junior libero Kasy Dummer may have had her best match of the season, repeatedly picking up smoked balls off the arm of Hayden and making nice passes. Mara Quam also dug up a number of hammered balls.

Hayden repeatedly asked her setter to get the ball higher and when she did the crafty junior was able to pick her spots and hit away from Dummer or Quam to pick up points.

The three Kenyon-Wanamingo seniors were named our Held Bus Service Knights of the night for their terrific leadership throughout the season.

Setter Siri Quam and right side hitters Sarah Sahl and Alexa Christenson experienced their final matches as high school volleyball players for the Knights.

The future looks bright for Kenyon-Wanamingo. Eight-grader Ally Peterson grew up as a player right before our eyes and had a very good match Saturday night.

Sophomore Corynne Dahl stuffed Hayden at the net more than once, showing quite a knack for blocking.

Sophomores Sydney Way and Maddie McCauley logged a number of minutes during the season.

Returning will be Dummer, Mara Quam, setter Mia Peterson and Flom.

The Knights have nothing to hang their heads over. They were co-champions of the Hiawatha Valley League with Stewartville and beat the defending champions. Took an exciting set from top ranked Belle Plaine while experiencing a 31-5 season.