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WABASSO — The Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team advanced to the Thumper Division of the Wabasso Tournament Saturday, Sept. 13.
Then the Arrows ran into Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class A seventh-ranked MACCRAY (Maynard-Clara City-Raymond) in the opening round.
MACCRAY’s front-row prowess proved to be the difference as the Wolverines powered past PAS, 25-19, 25-15.
“They have a couple of hitters with a lot of experience,” PAS head coach Shelly Hennager noted.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Jadyn Kor (9) sends the ball over the net while Central Minnesota Christian’s Kaylee Dannen (3) and Emmi Braem (8) attempt to block during a Wabasso Invitational pool play match on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kor finished the day with 25 kills spread over four matches. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
One of those hitters is 6-foot-1 middle blocker Brielle Janssen, who happens to be teammates with PAS’ Jadyn Kor with the Minnesota Rise basketball program. Emma Thein also is very talented, and another player standing 6-feet even.
The Arrows are 5-4 heading into Tuesday’s match at Blue Earth Area.
“I am proud of them,” Hennager said of the girls’ performance thus far. “We are not playing easy teams. We’ve had to work hard, and I think we are improving every single game. We’re starting to take some big swings with amazing kills.”
PAS opened pool play with victories over Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD), 25-18, 25-20 and Springfield 25-20, 25-16.
Pipestone Area Schools’ first-year head coach Shelly Hennager instructs the Arrows during a match versus MACCRAY at the Wabasso Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 13. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Central Minnesota Christian School (Prinsburg) had the serving acumen and defense to lift the Bluejays past the Arrows in the final pool match, 25-20, 25-14.
“Their defense, they were going after everything,” Hennager said. “They wouldn’t let the ball die on their end. They made us work extra hard (to try and get points).”
During the four matches, Taryn Tuinstra powered the squad with 30 kills and Kor had 25. Tuinstra also scooped up a team-leading 33 digs throughout the day.
Setters Carmen Wiese and Avery Reinhard supplied 52 and 36 assists, respectively, in the Arrows’ 6-2 offense.
In the match versus MACCRAY, Kailyn Burmeister posted six digs and Wiese three. Emersyn Smidt added two kills.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Brynn Schulze (12) and Emersyn Smidt both leap for blocks on the front row in a match versus Central Minnesota Christian. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Kaysa Douty, Brynn Schulze and Brooke Einck also contributed to the success of the Arrows at the event.
For example, Douty had a team-best nine digs in the loss to CMCS.
Southwest Minnesota Christian was relegated to the Trixie Division, losing to BOLD, 25-14, 25-8 in bracket play.
During pool play, the Eagles lost to MACCRAY, 25-22, 25-14, host Wabasso, 25-11, 25-9 and Redwood Valley, 25-16, 25-16.
The Southwest Minnesota Christian volleyball team celebrates winning a point during the Wabasso Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 13. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)