Gopher Conference opponents Medford and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown shared the big stage of the state volleyball tournament and even squared off in the semifinals at Xcel Energy Center. The Buccaneers finished as state runner-up and the Tigers took third. The teams are the co-winners of this week's Cash Wise Foods of Owatonna and Waseca Team of the Week honors.

Cash Wise Foods is donating a gift card to a charity in the district of the winning team each week during the 2019-2020 school year. Just recently the Waseca football team was recognized for their second straight appearance in the state tournament.

WEM beat Medford in the state semifinals on Friday, November 8. It was the fourth win of the season over the Tigers for the Bucs. WEM couldn't overcome top-seed and defending state champ Minneota who swept the Bucs for the state title in Class A.

Medford rode a strong wave into the semifinals after sweeping Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in the quarterfinals on Thursday, winning each set by a wider margin than the set before it. The Tigers bounced back from the semifinal loss to sweep Fosston in the the third place match. Medford finished as the state runner-up in 2018, their first appearance at state in volleyball.

All 12 players on the roster got into the third place match. Medford had five seniors of their roster with Kiley Nihart, Morgan Langeslag, Emma Kniefel, Alyvia Johnson, and Izzy Reuvers. The Tigers amassed a 55-15 record over the last two seasons.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown had just two seniors with Delaney Donahue and Trista Hering. WEM went 34-3 this season.

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