The Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights volleyball team traveled to Waterville tonight and went home with a 3-1 win over the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers.  The match featured the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll Class A #1 Knights and #5 Buccaneers.

The athleticism of the two teams was on display with some impressive kills by both teams.  W-E-M won the first set 25-21, Kenyon-Wanamingo captured a thrilling set two 28-26 before the Knights won the final two sets by identical 25-19 scores.

K-W needed 5 set points to win the second set and after missing on three opportunities to put away the Buccaneers, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown had a set point.  It was a chance to go up two sets to none which might have changed the match.

The block for Kenyon-Wanamingo got better throughout the night.  W-E-M picked up the first set because of a very strong block also.  The Buccaneer statistics had them with 15 ace blocks on the night led by Trista Hering.  The 5'11 senior led the team with 7 ace blocks and added 6 kills.

Toryn Richards collected 6 of her 17 kills in the first set and 5 more in the second set.  The 5'10 junior put down a handful of those with no resistance.  5'9 junior Kylie Pittmann is also a quick athlete with 7 of her 13 kills coming in the first two sets.

5'9 senor Delaney Donahue tallied 5 kills, with 15 digs. Pittman led the team with 19 digs,  Richards added 12 digs.

Buccaneers junior setter, 5'5 Ellie Ready had 34 set assists, 8 digs, two ace serves.

At this time no official stats from Kenyon-Wanamingo.  My very unofficial tally had senior 5'10 Ally Peterson with 25 kills.  Senior 5'10 Julianna Boyum with 12 kills. Junior 6'1 Hailey Lerfald 7 kills and 4 blocks.

Our Held Bus Service of Kenyon Knights of the match were Peterson, Boyum, Lerfald and setters Madi Luebke and Riley Dummer.

It's fun to watch two very good teams go toe to toe. I recall saying during the broadcast on KDHL I could see both facing each other in the State Tournament in November.

Kenyon-Wanamingo is now in Class A and has been inserted into Section 1 with state ranked Medford, Mabel-Canton and Caledonia.  Faribault Bethlehem Academy is also in that section.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown has to still face defending Section Champion Mayer Lutheran in Section 2A.

The Buccaneers are at Faribault High School Thursday.  The Knights are off until next week.

More From KRFO-AM