WILLMAR -- Central Lakes won its fourth straight MCCC volleyball title on Sunday winning a hard-fought match with Ridgewater.
The Raiders (30-3) prevailed in the final match of the three-day, eight-team state community college tournament 25-30, 30-27, 33-31 and 30-22.
Ridgewater coach Joe Sussenguth said he couldn't be disappointed given the caliber of his team's play against the No. 1-rated team in NJCAA Division III.
"I've never seen teams battle so hard," he said. "The games were physical and extremely well played. The difference was small; they just played better on a few more points"
Sophomore hitter Ashley Olson, freshman hitter Hilary Groothuis and libero Brittany Haas were named to the all-tournament team from Ridgewater. Olson, Jackie Noyes and Laura Suter were selected All-South Division first team.
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The college will also host the Region 13A tournament Friday and Saturday.
Saturday pool play
Willmar 3, Mesabi 1
Groothuis hammered 13 kills and Amy Ballard contributed three ace serves and 15 digs.
Ridgewater College 29 30 30
Mesabi Range 31 26 12
(Key: good-attempts-aces)
Ridgewater College
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Serving: Ashley Olson 12-15-1, Ashley Hennen 14-14-0, Jenna Olson 1-1-0, Amy Ballard 18-19-3, Jackie Noyes 10-11-1, Laura Suter 17-18-2 , Hilary Groothuis 9-9-0 ... Setting: Suter 99-99-33 ... Hitting: Ashley Olson 23-27-4, Hennen 27-30-7, Kayla Powers 10-13-5, Noyes 9-10-2, Melissa Sterkel 1-1-1, Suter 8-9-4, Groothuis 24-26-13, Krystal Prodoehl 1-1-1 ... Blocking (aces): Noyes 7, Groothuis 2, A. Olson 1, Hennen 1, Powers 1, Prodoehl 1... Digs: A. Olson 8, Hennen 15, Brittany Haas 19, J. Olson 2, Ballard 15, Powers 3, Noyes 1, Suter 8, Groothuis 2
Mesabi Range
Statistics not available
Semifinal Sunday
Ridgewater 3, Anoka-Ramsey 0
Jackie Noyes was 18-for-18 serving with five aces and made three ace blocks to go with five kills. Ashley Hennen and Groothuis each struck for 12 kills and Ashley Olson nailed 11 kills.
Anoka-Ramsey 13 21 25
Ridgewater 30 30 30
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Ridgewater College
Serving: Ashley Olson 9-9-0, Ashley Hennen 12-12-3, Jenna Olson 4-4-2, Amy Ballard 19-21-2, Jackie Noyes 18-18-3, Laura Suter 10-11-1, Hilary Groothuis 8-11-2 ... Setting: Suter 89-91-36... Hitting: A. Olson 24-27-11, Hennen 31-32-12, Powers 9-10-3, Noyes 11-12-5, Suter 5-6-3, Groothuis 16-18-12... Blocking (aces): A. Olson 2, Hennen 1, Powers 1, Noyes 3, Suter 1, Groothuis 2 ... Digs: A. Olson 12, Hennen 12, Brittany Haas 13, J. Olson 1, Ballard 5, Powers 2, Noyes 4, Suter 7, Groothuis 4
Anoka-Ramsey
No statistics available
Final Sunday
Central Lakes 3, Willmar 1
This was the rubber match between teams in the national tournament final four last November. Ridgewater got the first game 30-25.
The middle two games featured long rallies and the best volleyball of the tournament.
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In the back row, Haas made 19 digs for the second match in a row. Hennen made 20 and Laura Suter also had 19.
Suter had 41 assists. At the net, Groothuis made 16 kills, Olson 14, Noyes 8 and Hennen 7.
Central Lakes (30-3) 25 30 33 30
Ridgewater (39-4) 30 27 31 22
Ridgewater College
Serving: Ashley Olson 15-16-1, Ashley Hennen 21-22-2, Amy Ballard 11-14-1, Jackie Noyes 18-19-0, Laura Suter 24-26-2, Hilary Groothuis 10-13-1 ... Setting: Suter 140-141-41... Hitting: A. Olson 43-48-14, Hennen 38-42-7, Powers 11-14-3, Noyes 26-28-8, Suter 13-14-2, Groothuis 28-33-16 ... Blocking (aces): Olson 1, Noyes 3, Suter 1, Groothuis 7 ... Digs: A. Olson 19, Hennen 20, Brittany Haas 19, Ballard 18, Powers 6, Noyes 4, Suter 19, Groothuis 5
Central Lakes
No statistics available:
