BRAINERD -- The Willmar Cardinals fell to the Brainerd Warriors in five games 25-14, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25 and 15-13 on Thursday in a Central Lakes Conference volleyball match.
The Cardinals (2-7, 5-11) took most of two games to adjust to Brainerd's deliberate-style offense. Willmar's passing improved in Game 3 and the Cardinals began to attack the middle with some success.
Willmar won Game 4 on an ace serve by Casey Marcus, who made 22 digs for the Cardinals' defense. Willmar had a late lead in the fifth game, 12-10, but couldn't hold it against the Warriors' (4-5, 13-13-1) tough serving.
The Willmar attack leaders were Katie Lippert with 14 kills, Emily Minnick with 13, Laura Swartz with nine and Addy Nelsen with seven.
Minnick also had eight ace blocks and Lippert finished with four.
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Hailey Vreeman numbered 21 assists and Nelsen 16. Lindsey Atchison worked the backcourt for 15 digs.
Brainerd 3, Willmar 2
Willmar (2-7, 5-11). 14 21 25 25 13
Brainerd(4-5, 13-13-1) 25 25 20 23 15
(Key: good-attempts-aces)
Willmar
Serving: Hailey Vreeman 13-13-1, Lindsey Atchison 12-12-1, Shae Bruess 14-15-0, Addy Nelsen 14-15-1, Casey Marcus 17-21-1, Emily Minnick 18-19-2 ... Setting: Nelsen 68-70-16, Vreeman 72-73-21 ... Hitting: Atchison 17-20-3, Katie Lippert 27-31-14, Minnick 30-32-13, Laura Swartz 28-34-9, Nelsen 31-34-7, Taylor Flegel 10-11-1, Sara Kooistra 6-10-2 ... Blocking (aces): Lippert 4, Minnick 8, Flegel 2 ... Digs: Bruess 14, Atchison 15, Nelsen 7, Swartz 12, Marcus 22, Vreeman 8
Brainerd
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Statistics not reported
