LE SUEUR — When it came to finishing each set Monday, Le Sueur-Henderson showed why it’s the top seed in the Section 2AA, South Subsection volleyball tournament.
“In those first two sets, I think our experience really helped us,” LSH coach Dave Nixon said. “Each set was close, and we were able to pull it out. When you go up 2-0, it’s a lot easier to play loose in the third set.”
The Giants defeated Mankato East 3-0 in the subsection semifinals Monday at the Le Sueur gym. However, the game scores were much closer at 27-25, 26-24, 25-9.
“We were pretty confident, but Mankato East came out really strong,” LSH junior Kaitlyn Braun said. “I was impressed with them, but we knew we had to pull together and we could win.”
LSH took a 4-0 lead in the first set, but East’s Christa Wolner served seven straight points, capped by four consecutive aces.
The teams traded points as LSH went up 18-16 on a pair of aces off Braun’s jump serve only to see the Cougars rally behind three points from Taylor Homan. Morgan Meger had consecutive kills to bring the Giants to 24-22, but Allyse Johnson’s block tied the game at 24.
Piper Timmerman’s kill tied the game at 25, but Braun answered as LSH scored the final two points for the victory.
“We knew we had to pull through,” Braun said. “Everybody was cheering for each other.”
The second set was just as close as Braun’s kill made it 9-7, but East pulled even at 11 on a kill by Timmerman. The Giants went ahead 18-15 on a tip by Megan Zeiher, but the Cougars rallied with four straight, including a pair of tips by Hallie Enderle. Timmerman’s kill gave East a 23-21 lead, but the Giants responded with a 5-1 run, highlighted by Meger’s kill and an ace serve by Tayler Kahlow for a 26-24 victory.
“I thought East came out fired up, and they played like they had nothing to lose,” Nixon said.
The Giants established an early lead in the third set, leading 5-1 and 9-4. The Cougars drew within 15-9 before Braun served the final 10 points. Kim Kuechle, a 6-foot blocker, dominated the final set with three kills and six blocks.
“At times, (Kuechle’s) been very effective, but tonight, she was on fire,” Nixon said. “They just couldn’t hit around her.”
Braun finished with 11 kills, and Kuechle had seven kills and eight blocks. Meger had nine kills, Shelly Blaschko had 34 assists, and Kahlow made 12 digs.
Enderle led East with nine kills and three blocks, while Johnson, Erica Viland and Timmerman each had five kills. Wolner had 20 assists and eight digs.
“I think the girls thought we could win,” East coach Kari Rodman said. “(LSH) has a great team, and I thought we played good volleyball. I was really proud of the girls.”
LSH (26-3) plays New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva in the subsection championship game at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Gustavus Adolphus.
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