Faribault Volleyball Loses Five-Set Standoff with Winona
This is how you would expect No. 8 versus No. 9 to go. Five sets. Overtime in the final set. Unfortunately for Faribault they came up on the short end of a 3-2 score and saw their volleyball season end Wednesday night at Winona 25-15, 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 17-15.
The Falcons had two chances at match point in the fifth set, leading 14-12 and 15-14. But the Winhawks fended those off and scored the final three points of the night for their third win of the season over Faribault.
Winona started the night strong. With Faribault up 8-6, the Winhawks went on a 9-1 run and cruised to a 25-15 win. Grace Rohde led the attack with six kills and had about 25 for the match.
The Falcons found themselves down 7-2, but surged through the middle of the set with a 6-0 run and grabbed the lead for good at 17-16 and won the set 25-20. Faribault had four ace serves in the set.
Faribault jumped ahead 7-1 in the third set and never trailed. Winona got within a single point three times. Payton Evenstad had about seven kills in the set, part of a 15 kill night. The Falcons took the set 25-20.
The fourth set was close throughout with Winona leading the whole way, but by never more than three points. The Winhawks won 25-22.
Faribault's Bennett Wolff had nearly 15 kills. Ellie Knutson reached almost ten kills. Meghan Swanson had numerous blocks. McKayla Armbruster added a handful of kills. Seniors for Faribault (8-18) include Armbruster, Knutson and Brooke Flicek.
Winona (12-14) will go to top-seed Lakeville North Friday night in the Section 1AAA quarterfinals.
Section 1AAA volleyball
Wednesday, October 24
Winona 3, Faribault 2
Rochester JM 3, Owatonna 0
Rochester Mayo 3, Austin 2
Farmington 3, Albert Lea 0
Section semifinals
Friday, October 26
Winona at Lakeville North
Farmington at Century
John Marshall at Northfield
Rochester Mayo at Lakeville South