Austin Packers volleyball falls to Winona in five sets 3-2 Monday

The Austin Packers volleyball team was looking to keep the momentum of a 3-1 performance at the Maple River Invitational last Saturday going Monday evening in a Big 9 Conference clash with Winona at Packer Gym, and although the Packers were able to rally to tie the match at two sets apiece, the Winhawks prevailed 15-8 in the fifth and deciding set to win 3-2.

The scores from Monday night’s match were 25-20, 18-25, 19-25, 25-20 and 15-8, and for Austin, Chloe Jenkins led the Packers in set assists with 12, plus she supplied three kills, 10 digs defensively and an ace serve, Peyton Manahan led Austin offensively in kills with 12, plus she added 14 digs, one set assist and one ace serve, Emily Hjelmen tallied eight kills, three ace blocks and one dig, Kristen Nielsen put up seven set assists and led Austin in digs with 34, Ava Denzer supplied three kills, one set assist, two digs and two ace serves, Teagan Sutter tallied three kills, five digs and three ace blocks, and Alia Retterath contributed two kills, 11 set assists, eight digs and three ace serves.

With the loss, Austin is now 1-6 in the Big 9 Conference and 5-13 overall on the season.  The Packers return to action Thursday evening in Rochester versus the Mayo Spartans, with the varsity match scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.