VolleyKnights Sweep Their Way To Sectional Crown

The Southwood Lady Knights volleyball team swept their way to a sectional title Saturday.

In the championship against county rival Northfield the VolleyKnights got off to a hot start and never took the foot off the gas pedal, defeating Northfield 25-5, 25-21, 25-8.

In the first set the Knights would jump out to a quick 11-2 lead. Quinn Claussen and Grace Drake dominated the net while Carley Whitesel served. At 11-4 Drake would start a 9-0 run with a kill with Hali Pershing adding two kills and Shania Rhamy adding a kill. Alexis Lopez and Pershing would add kills late in the set for the 25-5 win.

The Norse would jump out to a 3-0 lead in the second set with a block from Camryn Kuhn and an ace from Ellie Baker. Whitesel and Rhamy would answer with kills to put Southwood up 6-5. Leading 8-7 the Knights would get a monster kill from Rhamy that extended the lead to 11-7. Southwood would build their lead to 18-10 before the Norse found a second wind. Kuhn would record a kill, followed by a Lynn block as the Norse chipped away, getting the deficit to 22-19. Pershing would then record back-to-back kills that propelled the Knights to a 25-21 win.

The third set was all Southwood. Tied 2-2 the Knights would reel off 12 straight to grab a 14-2 lead. Rhamy and Claussen would record kills while Whitesel served. The Norse would get no closer than 18-6 before the Knights went running again. Rhamy, Lopez and Pershing would all kill with Drake serving an ace in the 25-8 win.

Allie Haecker – 8 Points, 5 Assists, 12 Digs

Grace Drake – 9 Points, 3 Aces, 11 Kills, 12 Assists, 2 Blocks, 8 Digs

Carley Whitesel – 18 Points, 2 Aces, 2 Assists, 1 Block, 8 Digs

Shania Rhamy – 12 Points, 13 Kills, 11 Digs

Quinn Claussen – 1 Kill, 3 Blocks, 1 Dig

Adi Deaton – 12 Assists, 7 Digs

Hali Pershing – 8 Points, 9 Kills, 3 Digs

Giulia Colombini – 1 Assist, 5 Digs

Hannah Garrison –

Alexis Lopez – 2 Kills, 1 Block

Earlier in the day Southwood defeated Caston in three sets, while Northfield swept Lakeland Christian.

Allie Haecker: 13 Service Points, 2 Assists, 20 Digs

Grace Drake: 5 Service Points, 12 Kills, 16 Assists, 1 Block, 10 Digs

Carley Whitesel: 2 Kills, 3 Digs

Shania Rhamy: 9 Service Points, 1 Ace, 12 Kills, 1 Assist, 3 Blocks, 18 Digs

Quinn Claussen: 3 Blocks

Adi Deaton: 1 Kill, 18 Assists, 1 Dig

Hali Pershing: 10 Service Points, 3 Aces, 11 Kills, 9 Digs

Giulia Colombini: 3 Digs

Hannah Garrison: 5 Service Points, 3 Digs

Alexis Lopez: 2 Kills, 2 Blocks, 1 Dig

To view photos from the championship match click on the picture and follow the link.