The Crookston Pirate Volleyball team faced a strong opponent in the first round of the Section 8AA tournament, and the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines beat the Pirates by a score of 3-0.
FIRST SET
Wadena-Deer Creek started the set winning four of the first five points, including a kill from Payton Gravelle. Crookston got a point after the Wadena-Deer Creek hit one out before the Wolverines went on an 8-0 run. The following points were back and forth to make it 15-6. Kristine Bernd and Mackenzie Funk got a kill to make it 18-8 Wolverines. Wadena-Deer Creek ended the first set on a 7-0 run, including two kills from Kennedy Ness and Lola Pulver. The Wolverines won the set by a score of 25-8 and took a 1-0 match lead.
SECOND SET
The second set was tied at one and then again at three after an ace from Kristine Bernd. Wadena-Deer Creek then went on a 4-0 run to make it 7-3. Crookston got a point, and then the Wolverines went on a 5-0 run. The run was ended by an Emma LaPlante, making the score 12-5. Wadena-Deer Creek went on a 6-0 run that was ended when they hit it into the net. The Wolverines went on a 5-0 run that ended when a serve went into the net. Wadena-Deer Creek won two of the following three points to win the second set 25-9 and take a 2-0 match lead.
THIRD SET
Wadena-Deer Creek won the first two points before Crookston got a point to make it 2-1. The Wolverines responded with a 9-0 run, including two Pulver kills to make it 11-1. The run ended when Wadena-Deer Creek hit one out. The Wolverines then went on an 8-0 run, including a pair of kills from Ness. Crookston got a point to end the run and make it 19-3. Wadena-Deer went on a 3-0 run that ended when they hit the net. Wadena-Deer Creek won the last four points, winning the third set 25-4 and the match 3-0.
Crookston finishes their season at 2-21. Wadena-Deer Creek improves to 19-9 and takes on Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in the Section 8AA quarterfinals.
TO LISTEN TO COACH KATIE ENGLESTAD POST-MATCH COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crookston | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Wadena-DC | 25 | 25 | 25 |
For CROOKSTON
Kills – Emma LaPlante 2, Makenzie Funk 1, Kristine Bernd 1
Blocks – Joey Nesseth 1
Digs – Danielle Kresl 11, Emma LaPlante 9
Assists – Joey Nesseth 2, Makenna Kopecky 1
Aces – Kristine Bernd 1
For WADENA-DEER CREEK
Kills – Lola Pulver 16, Kennedy Ness 12
Blocks – Kennedy Ness 1
Digs – Jada Dykhoff 10, Montana Carsten 10
Assists – Addy Gravelle 31, Ashley Pavek 4
Aces – Lola Pulver 2, Montana Carsten 2
