WILLMAR -- It took Ridgewater a game to get going, but after it got on track Wisconsin Tech had no answer for the Lady Warriors.
Ridgewater gave up 26 points to the Wisconsin state runner-up in the first game before winning 30-10 and 30-18 to complete a sweep in the semifinals of the Region 13 tournament Friday.
The Lady Warriors (30-4) will now meet Madison Area Technical College today at 1 p.m. in the championship match with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament Nov. 17-18 in Rochester.
Madison Area beat Fergus Falls 30-24, 20-30, 30-28, 30-25 in the other semifinal.
"It took us a long time to get started," said Ridgewater coach Joe Sussenguth. "In the first game we couldn't find a flow, but things went well from there after that."
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Igniting the Lady Warriors was Ashley Hennen. The freshman outside hitter pounded down 16 kills, leading an offense that also saw sophomore outside hitter Ashley Olson notch 11 kills and freshman middle hitter Jackie Noyes eight more.
"Hennen had a good match. She passed well and was very productive offensively," said Sussenguth. "It was probably her best offensive game in a while."
Olson and sophomore setter Laura Suter both had three ace serves. Suter directed the offense with her 33 assists and also had three ace blocks, as did Noyes.
Ridgewater 3, Wisc. Tech 0
Wisconsin Tech (11-14).................................26 10 18
Ridgewater (30-4)......................................30 30 30
Wisconsin Tech
Statistics not available
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Ridgewater
Serving: Ashley Olson 17-20-3, Ashley Hennen 8-8-1, Amy Ballard 9-9-0, Kayla Powers 2-2-0, Jackie Noyes 10-10-0, Melissa Sterkel 11-11-1, Laura Suter 15-17-3, Hilary Groothuis 8-10-0, Krystle Prodoehl 0-1-0 ... Setting: Suter 79-79-33 ... Hitting: Olson 19-22-11, Hennen 28-31-16, Powers 9-10-5, Noyes 17-18-8, Sterkel 1-1-1, Suter 9-10-4, Groothuis 6-8-1, Prodoehl 5-7-3 ... Blocking (aces): Suter 3, Noyes 3, Powers 2, Hennen 1, Sterkel 1, Groothuis 1, Prodoehl 1 ... Digs: Olson 9, Hennen 8, Brittany Haas 7, Jenna Olson 2, Ballard 7, Powers 3, Noyes 1, Sterkel 2, Suter 8, Groothuis 2
