BERTHA -- Heidi Lensing pounded down 24 kills in 41 attacks as Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa coasted by Pine River-Backus after a slow start in the Section 5A volleyball championship Saturday night at Bertha-Hewitt High School.
The 19-25, 25-14, 25-17, 25-18 victory advances the Jaguars (27-3) into the Class A state tournament against Mayer Lutheran at 3 p.m. Thursday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Mayer Lutheran has a modest 17-13 record after beating Meadow Creek Christian in four games in the Section 4A championship Saturday. But the Crusaders played many Class AA and AAA schools this season.
BBE has won 18 straight matches. Its last loss came in the Sauk Rapids Invitationals on Sept. 16.
Lensing, a 5-11 junior middle hitter, was nearly unstoppable against Pine River-Backus, finishing with only two errors in 41 attacks for a robust .537 kill percentage. She also led the team with 16 digs.
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BBE's last trip to the state tournament was two years ago under Mimi Knutson. The Jaguars went 0-2 in the state tournament, although they lost in five games in the quarterfinals and four in the semifinals.
BBE dropped the opening game against Pine River-Backus, but came back to win the last three easily.
Emily Roelike, a 5-6 junior outside hitter, added 10 kills and 14 digs for the Jaguars. Lindsey Goodwin, a 6-0 senior outside hiter, notched eight kills, a team-high four ace blocks and 11 digs. Senior setter Sarah Gruber finished with 41 assists and eight digs. Jena Schroeder led BBE with three ace serves. Julie Hieserich compiled 13 digs. Ashley Serbus nailed down four kills.
BBE 3, Pine River-Backus 1
Pine River-Backus 25 14 17 18
BBE (27-3) 19 25 25 25
Pine River-Backus
Statistics not available
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Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Serving: Heidi Lensing 15-18-1, Emily Roelike 10-11-0, Jena Schroeder 17-18-3, Lindsey Goodwin 15-16-1, Sarah Gruber 13-16-1, Jenny Hieserich 12-12-0 ... Setting: Lensing 3-3-0, Roelike 2-2-0, Schroeder 3-4-1, Goodwin 5-5-0, Gruber 111-112-41, Jenny Hieserich 2-2-1, Ashley Serbus 1-1-0 ... Hitting: Lensing 39-41-24, Roelike 35-37-10, Schroeder 6-12-0, Goodwin 36-30-8, Gruber 5-6-1, Serbus 10-12-4 ... Blocking (aces): Lensing 2, Schroeder 1, Goodwin 4 ... Digs: Lensing 16, Roelike 14, Schroeder 7, Goodwin 11, Gruber 8, Emily Radermacher 1, Serbus 3, Julie Hieserich 13
