Medford Volleyball Wins in Five Sets; Blooming Prairie Sweeps

Medford and Blooming Prairie volleyball came away with non-conference wins Monday night, in drastically different fashion. Medford outlasted Pine Island 3-2 after winning the first two sets. BP blanked Southland 3-0 and were, "in control for most of the match," according to coach Ranell Kittelson. Blooming Prairie goes to Medford for a Gopher Conference battle Tuesday night. It's 'Parents' Night' for the Tigers.

The Tigers jumped ahead of the Panthers Monday 25-19 in the opening set and held on to win the second game 25-23, but lost a big lead, which foretold how the rest of the night would go. Pine Island won back-to-back sets by 25-23 scores, setting up the fifth and decisive set.

Medford trailed early, but the fifth set was frequently tied. The Tigers reeled off the final three points for a 15-13 win. Emma Kneifel delivered a strong swing for a kill, Morgan Langeslag pushed a ball over for a kill and Jenna Berg served an ace to clinch the match.

Kniefel and Amanda Honsey each had about 12 kills. Rachael Luebbe came in with about ten. Kelsey Kern finished right behind that. Setter Langeslag distributed the ball well. Libero Madi Krenske had a busy night digging the ball.

The Awesome Blossoms swept the Rebels 25-21, 25-20, 25-16. McKenna Hein led BP with 11 kills and seven digs. Sam Wurst had eight kills and four blocks. Julia Worke also killed eight, plus lifted up 11 digs and served a pair of aces. Ayren Ingvalson had five kills, seven digs and an ace. Heather Pirkl dished out 28 assists.

Volleyball scores, Monday September 18
Blooming Prairie 3, Southland 0
Medford 3, Pine Island 2
Goodhue 3, Randolph 1
Kasson-Mantorville 3, Bethlehem Academy 1
Tri-City United 3, Waseca 1
United South Central 3, Glenville-Emmons 0
WEM 3, St. Peter 1