Posted: 11/13/02

Volleyball run ends at state

A good run it was for the Forest Lake girls volleyball team.

Although the Rangers came up short in their bid for a Class AAA state crown, the team played with grit and determination, said head coach Sherri Alm this week. The appearance last week at state was the schoolís first in volleyball in three decades of competition.

The Rangers, after an opening round loss to Lakeville, went on to reach the consolation championship game by defeating Totino-Grace. In the fifth-place game, however, the Rangers were defeated by a solid Eagan club in three straight matches.

The three-day tourney at the Xcel Center in St. Paul concluded on Saturday.

After posting a 24-9 overall season record, Alm was thinking nothing but positive in the hours after the teamís last game on Saturday morning.

Forest Lake had its chances in the opening round loss to Lakeville, but couldnít get the big points needed to put away the Lakeville squad.

ìWe really had opportunities with Lakeville,î Alm said.

In Fridayís consolation round, Forest Lake bounced back with vigor, handing Totino-Grace a four-match defeat. The Rangers had defeated Totino early in the season and found the second meeting to their liking as well, Alm said.

Alm said the grind of the three-day tournament, the early morning play and the stay in St. Paul may have taken its toll in the consolation title game against Eagan.

For the second time in two days, Forest Lake was forced into a 9 a.m. morning match against Eagan.

Eagan dominated all three games to claim the title for fifth place.

ìWe didnít give them (Eagan) the match we could have,î Alm said.

ìI think we were a little tired.î

Tourney notes, stats

ïSenior Katie Thompson, an outsider hitter, was named to the Class 3A All Tournament team. Thompson led the Rangers with 40 kills in the three games and produced an outstanding kill efficiency mark of .317.

ïForest Lakeís other kill leaders in the tourney were senior Mary Sobiech, middle hitter, with 22, and senior Molly Thompson, a middle hitter, with 20.

ïJunior outside hitter Cortney Marr produced a 96 percent serve receive percentage and counted 57 digs in the three games. Marr also scored 32 points and produced a serving mark of 98 percent.

ïMolly Thompson led the club with 10 blocks while senior middle hitter Tara Kent added eight. Sobiech produced seven blocks.

ïSenior outside hitter Kristina Bushman led the club in serving with a 100 percent efficiency rate. Sobiech served at a 97 percent clip.

ïSenior setter Allison McCurdy led the team with 84 setting assists. McCurdy added 51 digs to go along with Bushmanís 17 digs.

ïCoach Alm was able to utilize her entire roster in the state tournament competition, giving all players a feel for the new environment in front of a large crowd in St. Paul.

ïForest Lake dedicated its play in the state tournament to former assistant coach and Forest Lake graduate Lori Motschenbacher who is battling cancer.

ïLake Conference schools dominated the Class 3A field finishing third, fourth and fifth.

ïTotal attendance for the three-day tournament was a record 21,327 for the three-class format which started in 1999.

Class 3A Scores

Quarterfinals

Robbinsdale Armstrong def. Eagan 7-15, 16-14, 16-14, 17-15; Chaska def. Albany, 16-14, 14-10, 15-1; Lakeville def. Forest Lake, 15-13, 15-9, 16-14; Marshall def. Totino-Grace, 15-7, 9-15, 15-11, 15-3.

Consolation Semifinals

Eagan def. Albany, 15-5, 15-8, 15.3; Forest Lake def. Totino-Grace 16-14, 15-9, 8-15, 15-12.

Semifinals

Robbinsdale Armstrong def. Chaska, 15-9, 15-8, 15-11; Marshall def. Lakeville, 5-15, 15-6, 15-9, 15-10.

Consolation Championship

Eagan def. Forest Lake, 15-4, 15-8, 15-2.

Championship

Robbinsdale Armstrong def. Marshall 15-1, 16-14, 9-15, 14-16, 15-11.

Third Place

Lakeville def. Chaska, 15-11, 15-12, 15-13.

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