WEM Volleyball Defeats Minneota to End Perfect Season

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers traveled to Minneota Friday night for a rematch of last year's Class A state championship.  The Bucs defeated the Vikings in four sets.  Scores were 25-20 WEM, 25-20 Minneota, 25-19 WEM and 25-14 WEM.

The two teams were ranked by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association #1 (Minnneota) and #2 (WEM) all season. The Vikings two time defending state champions.

Minneota and WEM were also supposed to meet in the MSHSL Girls State Basketball Tournament Class A Semifinals last March when the decision was made to end the tournament.  Maybe they can arrange a meeting in that sport also with no state tournament scheduled.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Head Coach Crystal Lamont was in quarantine and watched online.  She told us with no state tournament it was great her team got to play the best and beat the best in their final match.  "Especially the seniors."

WEM finished 11-0 winning their third consecutive Gopher Conference title.

I told her in my mind (and I'm sure her players) the Bucs are now the best team in Class A.  It's more impressive they defeated Minneota in their home gym instead of a neutral court like the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul where the State Tournament is typically held.

Senior outside hitters Toryn Richards and Kylie Pittmann dominated.  Pittmann with 29 kills and a .439 attack percentage.  Richards 21 kills, hit .370.  The team had a blistering .384 attack percentage against a very good Vikings defense.  WEM put down 63 kills in the four set match and only 10 hitting errors.

Coach Lamont also said her team played their best defense of the season against a powerful Minneota attack.  The Bucs collected 75 digs in the four set match.

Senior libero Autumn Taylor may have saved her best for last with 23 digs to lead the team.  Richards had 22, Pittmann 16 digs.  Senior setter Ellie Ready was her usual steady distributor with 56 set assists.

The Buccaneers serve percentage was 93.6% with 5 aces, 6 errors.  Ready with 2 aces, solo aces for Pittman, senior Allison Rients, junior Mikaya Schuster.

Middle hitters junior Alex Heuss and senior Lindsay Condon combined for 11 kills.  Heuss was super efficient hitting .700 with 7 kills.  Condon added 4 kills, 2 block assists.

I wish I could have been there to call the action.