Faribault Volleyball Drops 5 Set Thriller in Winona

The Faribault Falcons were up 2 sets to 1 and had three match points in the fifth set but couldn't finish off the Winona Winhawks Wednesday night in Winona.  In the fifth set the Falcons were down 10-7 before coming back to take a 14-12 match point lead.  Two points later it was tied at 14.  Faribault had another lead and a chance to win the match but eventually lost 17-15 and had their season come to a crashing halt.

For seniors Ellie Knutson, Brooke Flicek and McKayla Armbruster it was the final match of their high school careers.  Faribault played without a couple of their starters for an extended period during the season including a match at home when they fell to the Winhawks in three sets 25-15, 25-19, 25-23 on October 4.

Winona breezed to a 25-15 win the first set before Faribault captured 25-20 and 25-20 wins to take a two sets to one lead.  The Winhawks forced a fifth game following a 25-22 fourth set win.  #8 seed Winona now goes to top seed Lakeville North on Friday night.

In the other Section 1AAA contests, #7 seed Rochester Mayo edged #10 Austin 3-2.  The Spartans go to #2 seed Lakeville South Friday night.  #6  Rochester John Marshall swept #11 Owatonna 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 and goes to #3 seed Northfield Friday night.  Farmington swept Albert Lea 25-6, 25-16, 25-19 and goes to #4 seed Rochester Century Friday night.

In other Wednesday volleyball two other Big Nine Conference teams were ousted from the Section 2 Class 3A tournament.  Chanhassen swept Mankato East and Chaska edged Mankato West in five sets.

Thursday night the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals begin defense of their Section 1 Class A title when they host Gopher Conference opponent Blooming Prairie on POWER 96 Radio with Roy Koenig on the call.

I will go to Waterville to see the Bucs host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial in Class 2A tournament action on KDHL Radio.

We will both begin broadcasts about 6:45 p.m. with 7:00 p.m. first serves scheduled.

The best way to listen is to download the FREE KDHL and POWER 96 apps.