Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Volleyball Playing For State Title

On September 22, the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers were swept by the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals in Faribault.

Immediately following the match, head coach Crystal Lamont's team was upset with their play. They didn't pout. They got busy getting better in hopes of a rematch, knowing that could only happen if they made the state tournament.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown will get that rematch in championship match at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Saturday.

The Buccaneers defeated No. 2-rated and No. 2-seeded Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in an incredible match that saw the two teams combine for 176 digs. It was something to get a ball to hit the floor in this one.

WEM had five players with double-digit kills and four players with double-doubles.

The defense was something to behold.

During the season, the Panthers did receive a few first-place votes in the weekly coaches poll from time to time, but once again the senior-dominated Buccaneers looked locked into their goal to face the Cardinals again.

Senior Kamryn Kendall had 62 total attacks in a four-set match and collected 24 kills and 16 digs.

Junior Kate Masberg had 17 kills in 52 attempts and 21 digs.

Senior RaeAhna Harmon had 13 kills in 42 attempts and 18 digs.

Freshman setter Paige Pittman amassed 46 assists and 13 digs, and senior Morgan Jindra came off the bench for 11 digs.

The Panthers had just one player with double-digit kills. Sophomore Sydney Lanoue tallied 21 kills and 21 digs but also had double-digit hitting errors.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown won with efficient offense in the quarterfinals Thursday and outlasted the Panthers in a match that had some impressive scramble points by both teams.

The Buccaneers won the first two sets 26-24 and 27-25, then fell 26-24 in the third set when they had three match points.

It had to bug them a bit they weren't able to close out Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in three sets but they shook it off and went on to win the fourth set 25-21 and avenge another of their regular-season losses.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown lost three matches during the regular season.

Their first loss came to Bethlehem Academy. They then lost to Mayer Lutheran and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in tournaments.

In the Section 2 title match the Buccaneers beat Mayer Lutheran. Friday they downed Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and now they get a chance to avenge their only other loss of the season.

Bethany Boelter and John Anderson will have the call on Kat Kountry 105 104.9 FM. You can also listen online or by downloading the free RadioPup app on your favorite mobile device.

Bethany and John will get underway about 12:30PM if everything is on time.