The Crookston Pirate Volleyball team took leads in all three sets led by Allie Perreault in her first-ever varsity match, but Mahnomen-Waubun came back to win all three in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-20) in a Section 8A matchup in Crookston.
[yotuwp type=”videos” id=”fE26lv-rOB4″ ]
SET ONE –
Mahnomen-Waubun took a 3-1 lead before Crookston’s Mallorie Sundeen had a kill and Amber Cymbaluk followed with an ace to tie the set at 3-3. The teams were tied again at four before Crookston scored three straight points with Allie Perreault, who was playing her first varsity volleyball match, had a big kill which was followed by two Thunderbird errors and the Pirates led 7-4. Crookston continued to build on their lead with a couple of kills from Perreault and an ace from Rylee Solheim for a 10-5 lead. Crookston led 18-12 and seemed to be cruising to a first set victory, but Mahnomen-Waubun had back-to-back aces to spark a 13-2 run to end the set and the Thunderbirds came from behind to win 25-20. “We did a really good job starting the match,” Pirates head coach Ashley Stopa said. “That’s something I’d say we haven’t done in the past. I think we got a little comfortable and that allows for the other team to capitalize.”
SET TWO –
Crookston took a 3-0 lead with a Perreault kill, a Solheim ace, and a Mahnomen-Waubun attack error. The Thunderbirds responded with three straight points to tie the set. Crookston responded with a 6-1 run behind kills from Emma Boll and Mallorie Sundeen and several Thunderbird errors for a 9-4 lead. As they did in the first set, Mahnomen-Waubun battled back and while trailing 14-11, they went on a 12-3 run for a 23-17 lead. The Thunderbirds hurt their own momentum with two attacks sailing out of bounds and after a Mahnomen-Waubun kill, Crookston responded with back-to-back kills to get within a 24-21 deficit. After a time out, Crookston’s Perreault had a kill, but Mahnomen-Waubun responded with a kill for a 25-22 victory to take a big 2-0 lead in the match. “Mahnomen-Waubun attacked the front of our court quite well,” Stopa said. “We had some issues moving into position on defense, so they really found that front court tip spot, and that was the main difference in set two and for parts of set three.”
SET THREE-
Crookston took a 5-2 lead behind a Perreault kill and several Mahnomen-Waubun attack errors. The Thunderbirds answered with three straight points to tie the set at 5 and the teams were tied again at 6, and 7 before they built a 13-8 lead behind a bunch of kills and an ace. The teams split the next six points, but Crookston wanted a time out with Mahnomen-Waubun leading 16-11. The Thunderbirds continued to pull away and took a 22-17 lead, but Crookston didn’t go down without a fight as Amber Cymbaluk recorded back-to-back aces to bring the Pirates within a 22-19 deficit, forcing a time out. Mahnomen-Waubun ended the set strong with a 3-1 run to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-0. “There was a handful of miscommunications that resulted in aces,” Stopa said. “Aces are deflating when they’re against you, and that was the big thing in set three.”
Crookston drops to 0-9 on the year. Mahnomen-Waubun improves to 3-5 on the year.
J.V. – Crookston won 2-0 C Squad – Crookston won 2-0
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Mahnomen-Waubun | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Crookston | 20 | 22 | 20 |
For Crookston –
Kills – Ally Perreault – 10, Mallorie Sundeen – 6
Digs – Amber Cymbaluk – 7, Amelia Overgaard – 5
Assists – Libby Salentine – 12
Blocks – Libby Salentine – 2
Aces – Amber Cymbaluk – 4, Rylee Solheim – 3
For Mahnomen-Waubun –
Kills – Rylee McArthur – 12, Hanna Worms – 11
Blocks – Hanna Worms – 2
Aces – Kendra Syverson – 5
