Area playoff volleyball wrap-up
In the Section 1A-West volleyball playoffs Thursday evening, the number three-seeded Grand Meadow Superlarks played host to No. 6 Faribault Bethlehem Academy, and the Cardinals were able to move on in an upset by sweeping the Larks in three sets 25-19, 25-18 and 25-20.
Riley Queensland, who went over the 1,000 kill plateau earlier this season led the Larks in hitting with 9 kills, plus she added 14 digs defensivley and two ace serves. Hailey Hindt tallied four kills and two digs, while River Landers and Isabelle Olson each added three. Olson also led the Superlarks in digs with 18, Meghan Eastlee led GM in set assists with 10, and she chipped in with eight digs. Madison Hindt tallied five set assists, 10 digs and an ace serve for Grand Meadow, who finishes with a record of 22-12.
Faribault Bethlehem Academy moves into the Section 1A West semi-finals against two-seeded Medford, who defeated the 10th seeded Southland Rebels 25-11, 25-12 and 25-11. The Rebels upset seventh-seeded Randolph in the first round 19-25, 25-25-13, 25-21 and 25-21.
In other Section 1A-West action, No. 8 LeRoy/Ostrander was at top-seeded Kenyon/Wanamingo and were swept in three sets 25-9, 25-12 and 25-8.
Libertee Smalley led the Cardinals in hitting with five kills, plus she added an ace serve. Kelly Hanson chipped in three kills while Sam Volkart added two. Nicole Freerksken topped the club in set assists with 10, and Gracie O’Byrne and Kayden Schulte led the Cardinals in digs with six apiece.
LeRoy/Ostrander finishes the season with a record of 8-16.
The No. 5 seeded Hayfield Vikings were on the road in Section 1A-West at fourth-seeded Goodhue, and the Wildcats moved into the semi-finals against Kenyon/Wanamingo with a three-set sweep 25-18, 25-22 and 25-22.
The Vikings finished with a record of 14-14 on the season.