Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Entering this year there were high expectations and big goals for the varsity volleyball team. And a couple of weeks into their season they are playing as good as they had hoped. Or at least until they took on Anoka.

Coming off wins over North Branch and Chisago Lakes, the girls had a week off before they faced Grand Rapids on Friday, Sept. 8. If there was any rust from the lack of activity it didnít show in the Rangers 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 victory. The only problem now was dealing with an overloaded schedule, where Forest Lake had to wake up on Saturday morning to compete in the Coon Rapids Invitational, and then host Anoka on Monday night.

COON RAPIDS INVITATIONAL

By the end of the Coon Rapids tournament, Forest Lake had proven they could play with any team in the state as they took third place; their only loss coming to the eventual winners, Shakopee. The same Shakopee squad that is ranked No. 4 by the Pioneer Press in its Sept. 12 poll.

Head coach Sherri Alm said it was ìgreat overall team play,î and she had plenty of praise for her girls.

Megan Becker collected 33 kills during the invitational alone, and had 71 entering Mondayís contest.

ìShe was the athlete of the tournament,î coach Alm said. ìAnd sheís just got a great demeanor and a great attitude.î

Lexi Alm was second in kills with 25, while Chelsie Sobieck was right behind her with 24.

Nicole Tetrault has been a machine at the position of libero, getting 56 digs in the tournament, and totaling 102 in the young season. Lexi Alm was close behind in this statistic as well, getting 44 digs during Saturdayís play.

Another bright spot comes from junior setter Megan McKenzie. She racked up 91 assists in the invitational and already has 191, overall.

ìSheís spreading it around and doing a great job,î coach Alm said.

The nice start had the Rangers at 3-0 in non-conference play, and 6-1 overall.

FLAT FINISH

The only downside to the tremendous weekend came on Monday night, when the Rangers were defeated by Anoka, 25-18, 25-15, 25-13.

ìThis should have been a really good match,î coach Alm said. ìWe didnít play at all. We didnít really seem ready to go.î

Anoka jumped out to leads during all three games and Forest Lake was never able to recover.

Their next match, and hopes for a rebound performance, come this Saturday, Sept. 16, when they travel to Cambridge-Isanti.

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