Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

The 7AAA Section Tournament was going so smoothly for the Ranger volleyball team that itís a little jarring to think their season is over. Last week had the girls in Cloquet for the section final four, where they started it off on Tuesday, Oct. 31 by knocking off Hermantown by the semi-efficient score of 25-15, 34-32, 25-13. Where the ride got bumpy was in the finals on Thursday night against Hibbing. Forest Lake was sent home for the year after losing 25-21, 25-23, 25-19.

ìHermantown, we came out and we played awesome,î head coach Sherri Alm said. ìWe really had to play and look at the scoreboard and go, ëWow, weíre way ahead.íî

As for Hibbing?

ìYeah, it was a hard one to swallow,î she said.

To reach the finals, the Rangers served at 95 percent as a team and compiled statistics that support a great effort.

Chelsie Sobieck was on a tear with 18 kills and three blocks while right behind her was Megan Becker with 15 kills and a matching numbers of blocks. Backing them up was the rising Jamie Bucholz who contributed 10 kills.

The serving numbers were led by Nicole Tetrault and Megan McKenzie who were both perfect; Tetrault went 22-for-22 and McKenzie was 17-for-17.

A trio from Forest Lake was huge on defense: Lexi Alm piled up 21 digs and Sobieck had 20. ìThose two played some very nice defense,î coach Alm said. ìAnd along with Nicole Tetrault who had an additional 19 (digs).

ìWe really played well,î coach Alm concluded. ìThey (the Rangers) weíre in good position for hitting.î

HIBBING LOSS

The girls looked even better in the early stages of the championship match ó racing out to a 13-5 lead in the first game ó but then things started to change.

Calls from the officials did not go in Forest Lakeís favor and coach Alm saw her teamís confidence start to slip. Players became timid, team serving slumped, and overall, the Rangers just didnít compete like they normally do.

Bucholz and Tetrault were perfect on their serves, but the team serving dipped down to 92 percent. Becker totalled 12 kills, but instead of being pushed for the top honor, the next highest number was seven.

Coach Alm was disappointed with how the match deteriorated for her squad, but the Rangers (21-8) still hung in there.

ìEllen (Nelson) had a nice game in front,î she said.

ìMcKenzie Gemeiner played quite well. She had a very nice game. She helped us a ton.î

Speaking a day after the Hibbing loss, coach Alm was focused on the what ifs from the night before, but she was also able to appreciate what her team accomplished in 2006 ó a second place finish in the conference as well as a second in the sections.

ìWe had a nice year,î she said. ìThese seniors are just awesome, just awesome kids. Itís going to be tough to let them all go.î

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