Cannon Falls Volleyball Ends Season at State

Cannon Falls ended their season in the Consolation Championship of the MSHSL Class AA State Tournament.  The Bombers lost to Southwest Christian in three sets 25-18, 25-19, 25-16.

The Stars were ranked #1 all season, #1 seed in the State Tournament.  Cannon Falls was rated #3 in final Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association poll at the end of the regular season.

The Class 2A coaches at state seeded the Bombers #2. There were good crowds on hand supporting both school but with no bands there the energy during warmups for both teams was lacking.

Both were upset in five set matches on the opening day of their tournament and cast to the consolation bracket

The Consolation Championship match was played at 9 Saturday morning.  As I was setting up equipment to broadcast the match I noticed both teams were not making the usual noise teams do during warmups.  The shouts of encouragement, sheer joy expressed at participating in the sport.

The teams were playing less than 24 hours after their consolation bracket victories over Annandale (4 sets) by Southwest Christian of Chaska.  Greenway (3 sets) for Cannon Falls.

The Stars dominated the match.  I couldn't help but wonder if the result would have been the same if the two teams were playing for a state title as the seeds indicated.

I'm not saying Southwest Christian would lose but I do think the match would have been closer.

The Stars finished the match with a .351 attack percentage, 53 kills.  The Bombers had a .147 hitting percentage, 30 kills.  Southwest Christian tallied 49 digs, Cannon Falls 35 digs.

Total errors for the Bombers were 26, Stars 25.  It took Southwest Christian 71 minutes to win the Consolation Championship.

Stars senior Estelle Haugen was incredible in the match with 18 kills on .317 hitting, 12 digs, received 15 of 16 serves.  The 6'0 outside hitter has committed to Division I Georgia.

Haugen and Bombers setter senior Jaci Winchell were named to the Class 2A All-Tournament team.  Winchell and sophmore teammate Madison Burr were All-State selections in Class 2A.

This was the first trip to state by Cannon Falls with Head Coach Melissa Huseth chosen Section 1 Class AA Coach of the Year and Assistant Rocky Xiong is the Section Assistant of the year.

Burr achieved 10 kills in the match against Southwest Christian while hitting .079.

The Bombers did have 6 blocks in the match led by junior 6'0 Elleana Lind with 2 solo and an assist.  Senior 6'1 Halle Hustad also had 2 solo, one assist block.

Hustad smacked 9 kills while hitting .154.  Senior libero Brianna Robinson tallied 10 digs.

Cannon Falls finished their season 28-7.  Southwest Christian 31-4.

Sauk Centre was the #3 seed in the tournament and rated #6 in final Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class 2A poll.

The Mainstreeters are State Champions after defeating Jackson County Central in four sets Saturday.  Streeters is what they have on their uniforms.

The Huskies won the first set 25-13 then Sauk Centre reeled off 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 wins for their first State Volleyball Championship.

Jackson County Central finished with 53 kills, Sauk Centre had 40.  The Huskies totaled 86 digs, the Main Streeters 72 digs.

Sauk Centre did have 11 blocks compared to 4.

Again mistakes determined the outcome with the Streeters totaling 29 errors and Huskies 48.

Hawley downed Mounds Park Academy in five sets for third place.

Gordy's Class 2A Top Ten

1. Sauk Centre Mainstreeters
2. Jackson County Central Huskies
3. Hawley Nuggets
4. Mounds Park Academy
5. Southwest Christian Stars
6. Cannon Falls Bombers
7. Annandale Cardinals
8. Greenway Raiders
9. Pequot Lakes Patriots
10. Watertown-Mayer Royals
11. Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars

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