Vikes volleyball picks up two more wins

After a tough conference loss to Mora Sept. 19, the Vikings volleyball team rebounded to add two more wins to its record last week.
The first came in a non-conference match Sept. 24 against Cloquet.
The team wasted little time coming out and hammering away at Cloquet, taking sizable leads early in each match and winning in three games, 15-4, 15-1, 15-0.
Head coach Jim VanEerden said he was confident of a win before the match started. ìJust before the match I could see it in the playerís eyes that they were ready,î he said.
The Vikings had only three serving errors on the night, and racked up 12 aces. Senior Sheena Devine picked up 6 aces, followed by senior Heather Peterson with 4 and senior Sarah Rauen with 2.
At the net, the Vikes also dominated, with sophomore Jenny Anderson racking up 5 kills and 3 blocks. ìI was also happy with our passing,î VanEerden said.
Thursdayís match against Big Lake was also won in three games, 15-6, 15-8, 15-7.
Big Lake was out-played by the aggressive Vikings, as North Branch jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first game and never looked back.
Taking the first two games, North Branch quickly went ahead 12-1 in the third game, as VanEerden and co-head coach Larry Brodin rotated the entire bench into the lineup get some playing time. Several miscues and missed serves later, Big Lake had closed the gap to 12-7 before the Vikings finished it off. Rauen and Devine led the team with 7 kills each.
The Vikes took second at the Duluth East Invite Saturday, defeating Washburn, Wisc., Grand Rapids and Andover before falling to Anoka.
ìI was very pleased with how the team did against some very stiff competition,î VanEerden said.
Devine racked up 8 serving aces in the opening match, and Katy Vichorek added 6 kills and aggressive play. Tressa Gustafson and Peterson kept the offense going with strong passing.
The teamís record stands at 7-2 in dual match play, 14-2 overall and 3-1 in the RRC.
This week, the Vikes take on Milaca Tuesday and are in the Lakeville Invite Saturday.

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