SAUK RAPIDS -- Sauk Rapids rejected Willmar's upset bid Thursday night, winning 29-31, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-21 in Central Lakes Conference volleyball.
The Storm improved to 8-1 in the CLC, while Willmar dropped to 4-5.
Willmar was down 15-22 in the first game, but Laurie Buer served Willmar back to 21-22 to ignite the comeback.
The Cardinals played tough the rest of the way, but just couldn't overcome Sauk Rapids' strong play at the net. Emily Lindmeier led with 22 kills followed by Amy Pederson with 19.
"Our girls played good defense and covered well," said Willmar coach Mary Hanson, "But they have one of the best liberos we've seen in a while and they had a tall hitter who put a lot of pressure on our back row."
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Greta King had 23 kills for Willmar.
"They didn't stop Greta but we need another hitter to step up," said Hanson. "We have the kids who can do it. We just arent' finishing. But we played well tonight. The best in a while. I'm proud of the kids. We kept it close."
Megan Junkermeier delivered eight kills and three ace blocks and Laura Buer 27 set assists.
Sauk Rapids 3, Willmar 1
Willmar (4-5, 5-10) 31 22 21 20
Sauk Rapids (8-1, 15-4) 29 25 25 25
(Key: good-attempts-aces)
Willmar
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Serving: Megan Junkemeier 11-13-1, Heather Thoma 11-13-0, Annalise Bratt 16-19-1, Megan Brown 14-16-1, Greta King 14-14-1, Laurie Buer 16-16-2 ... Setting: King 43-43-4, Buer 85-86-27 ... Hitting: Junkermeier 17-23-8, Heather Thoma 22-25-2, Bratt 7-10-3, King 37-44-23, Chelsey Beilhartz 10-13-4, Buer 11-11-3.... Blocking (aces): Junkermeier 3, Thoma 1, Bratt 1, King 1, Beilhartz 2, Buer 2 ... Digs: Junkermeier 15, Thoma 6, Bratt 16, Brown 19, King 13, Beilhartz 2, Buer 5
Sauk Rapids
Serving: Linzi Konrad 15-17-3, Nikki Meinz 15-16-0, Amy Pederson 13-14-1, Carina Fesenmaier 13-16-1, Sasha Gearge 13-16-0, Allie Flock 11-13-0 ... Setting (assists): Fesenmaier 33 ... Hitting (kills): Konrad 6, Meinz 11, Pederson 19, Fesenamier 9, Emily Lindmeier 22 .... Blocking (aces): Lindmeier 4, Fesenmaier 4, Pederson 2, Konrad 1 ... Digs: Konrad 6, Meinz 24, Pederson 26, Fesenmaier 10, Gearge 23, Allie Flock 28, Lindmeier 5
