Owatonna Volleyball Battles Mayo to the Very End Before Falling 3-2

Owatonna volleyball rallied from a two-sets-to-none deficit to take Rochester Mayo to five sets before dropping a 3-2 decision. Fans for both sides gave the teams a standing ovation.

Owatonna and Mayo each held a lead in each set in an epic battle where every point was tightly contested. The Huskies served for the first set at 25-24, but Mayo rallied for the final three points and a 27-25 win.

Owatonna led by five points several times in the second set but Mayo pulled out a 25-23 win. Spartans senior Kate Holtan had seven of her 28 kills in that set. A Huskies highlight play was a one-armed dig by Olivia Spatenka that acted as a perfect pass/set to Lexi Langeland for a kill. Spatenka had three of her five service aces in the second set.

Langeland delivered 10 of her 30 kills in the third set that Owatonna won 25-23. Sydney Schultz smashed seven of her 16 kills in the fourth set during a 25-20 OHS win to even the match at 2-2.

The fifth set went back-and-forth early with OHS leading 7-5 when Mayo went on an 8-1 run for a 13-8 lead. Owatonna briefly turned the tables with a 5-1 run of their own to pull within 14-13 when Mayo scored the final point of the night for the 15-13 verdict.

Karissa Gregory had a solid night with eight kills. She and Devin Miller collected several blocks. Madie Kubista and Erin Steffenson shared the setting duties.

Thursday's match was held on the new gym floor at Mayo High School. It was originally on the schedule as a home match for the Huskies but got moved due to the water damage to the OHS gym floor. Owatonna (6-11, 2-4 Big Nine) plays at Red Wing on Tuesday. Mayo (11-2, 5-1) hosts Century on Tuesday in a dual for the top spot in the conference.

In other Tuesday action, Faribault topped the OHS boys soccer team 3-2 in overtime. The Owatonna girls beat Faribault 3-2. Mankato East edged the Owatonna girls tennis squad 4-3. Winona girls swimming edged Owatonna. The Huskies b-squad football team whipped Austin 70-0.

It was announced Thursday that Blooming Prairie's football game at Mankato Loyola is canceled. BP will get a win by forfeit.