WILLMAR -- A quick pace and balanced attack kept Willmar unbeaten in Central Lakes Conference volleyball action Thursday with a 25-19, 25-8, 25-19 win over St. Cloud Apollo.
Though the Cardinals (5-0, 8-4) won by only six points in the first game, Willmar dominated the second.
"We set a fast tempo and were able to maintain it in the second game," Willmar coach Mary Hanson said.
In the third game, the Cardinals had trouble with Apollo's more aggressive serving, but were able to hold the Eagles off.
Emily Nelsen paced Willmar with 11 kills in 18-of-22 attacks and three ace serves. Kelsey Evans pounded down eight kills in 10-of-13 attempts and also had three of the Cardinals' six ace blocks. Jena Thompson had seven kills in 12-of-13 attacks and two ace blocks. Annalise Bratt added 20 digs and Hannah Smith had 18 set assists, followed by Jennie Mattison with 13.
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Willmar 3, SC Apollo 0
SC Apollo 19 8 19
Willmar 25 25 25
(Key: good-attempts-aces)
St. Cloud Apollo
Statistics not available
Willmar
Serving: Brittney Hastad 16-16-2, Annalise Bratt 5-7-0, Kelsey Evans 9-10-1, Hannah Smith 11-15-1, Emily Nelsen 8-10-3, Jennie Mattison 9-11-1 ... Setting: Taya Nelson 6-6-1, Evans 7-8-1, Smith 30-30-18, Mattison 33-34-13, Alex Lippert 2-2-2 ... Hitting: Nelson 7-7-5, Hastad 2-2-0, Evans 10-13-8, Smith 13-14-3, Nelsen 18-22-11, Mattison 4-5-1, Lippert 12-13-5, Jena Thompson 12-13-7 ... Blocking (aces): Evans 3, Smith 1, Thompson 2 ... Digs: Hastad 10, Bratt 20, Smith 5, Nelsen 6, Mattison 5
