Kenyon-Wanamingo Volleyball Outlasts Hayfield

The Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights delighted their fans in a thrilling five set victory over #2 Class A Hayfield Thursday night in the Knights home opener.

The Castle was stifling hot and Hayfield brought a lot of fans too providing a terrific atmosphere.

Vikings Head Coach Jeremy Struck told KDHL before the match they needed to face some stiff competition and he knew Kenyon-Wanamingo would provide the kind of match his team desired.

Kenyon-Wanamingo had a great formula for success with a very balanced attack in the first set which ended with a 26-24 Knight win.

My very unofficial stats had 5'9 junior right side hitter Chelsea Gilster lead the way with 5 kills and 5'9 sophomore outside hitter Ally Peterson tallied 4 kills along with 5'10 sophomore outside hitter Megan Mattson.

Hayfield dominated the second set until just past the halfway mark when the Knights got to within striking distance but the Vikings were able to win 25-22.

In the third set Peterson cranked out seven kills and added three ace serves and 5'9 sophomore Julianna Boyum added 5 kills in a 25-22 Kenyon-Wanamingo victory and the Knights were a set away from knocking off the #2 Class A ranked Vikings.

Hayfield ran away from Kenyon-Wanamingo in set four but it still took them three set points to win 25-19.

Despite opening on offense in the fifth set Hayfield couldn't pull away and the Knights ended the night with 5'9 senior setter Maddie McCauley clubbing a service ace.

Senior Corynne Dahl crushed four kills in the fifth set and Peterson added three as K-W got back to a more balanced attack which had been the formula for success in their wins.

On the night Peterson led the way with 23 kills but Dahl and Boyum also had double digit kills.

Hayfield 5'9 senior outside hitter Carrie Rutledge, 5'11 senior setter Maggie Streightiff and 5'8 senior middle hitter Kate Kruger each had double digit kills for their team.

It was a fun night of volleyball with some long points in the sweltering hot gym.