The Fertile-Beltrami Falcons Volleyball team got the 2022-2023 season underway this evening when they hosted the Lake of the Woods Bears. Lake of the Woods was ready from the get-go winning the match in three sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-14).
First Set
Lake of the Woods came out strong scoring the first three points before Fertile-Beltrami responded with three of their own to tie the game at 3-3. The two teams went back and forth from there with JoJo Dunbar and Tori Erickson leading the way for Fertile-Beltrami with a couple of kills each. Neither team would take a big lead until Lake of the Woods scored five straight points to force a Falcons timeout and take a 17-11 lead. The timeout wasn’t enough, and Lake of the Woods continued to pound home kills to close out the first set with a 25-18 win.
Second Set
Lake of the Woods got off to another great start in the second set, taking a commanding 7-1 lead. Fertile-Beltrami would take advantage of a few Bears mistakes and a couple of nice kills by JoJo Dunbar to pull back within striking distance, trailing 11-7. The Falcons would rattle off three straight points from their capped-off with a thunderous kill from Kasia Wilson to pull within one point. The two teams would trade a couple of points after that before Lake of the Woods would take a timeout with a 13-12 lead. Fertile-Beltrami would take their first lead at 14-13, but Lake of the Woods would quickly erase it with four straight points to pull back in front 17-14. Fertile-Beltrami would claw their way back into the set and tie the game at 21-21. The best point of the set would then be played with Lake of the Woods prevailing and taking a 22-21 lead. Fertile-Beltrami would find themselves down 24-22 with the second set on the line. The Falcons would get the next point, and JoJo Dunbar would follow that up with an ace to tie the second set at 24-24 as the gym erupted. The energy would quickly disappear, however, as Lake of the Woods would score the next two points to claim the set 26-24 and take a 2-0 lead.
Third Set
Lake of the Woods also controlled the third set never trailing and never really facing much resistance. Fertile-Beltrami countered at times, but Lake of the Woods was a well-oiled machine executing their sets and taking the third set 25-14 to win the match 3-0.
Fertile-Beltrami drops to 0-1 on the season and will be in action again on Thursday when they play Red Lake Falls. Lake of the Woods improves to 1-0 with the win.
FOR FALCONS COACH KERRI SOLIE’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW
Audio Player
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Lake of the Woods | 25 | 26 | 25 |
| Fertile-Beltrami | 18 | 24 | 14 |
For Fertile-Beltrami
Kills – Kasia Wilson- (7), Tori Erickson- (5), JoJo Dunbar- (3), Grace Proulx- (3)
Blocks – Katelyn Aakhus, JoJo Dunbar, Tori Erickson, Kasia Wilson- (1 each)
Digs – Tori Erickson- (10), Maren Sather- (8), Brooklyn Strem- (8) Katelyn Aakhus- (6)
Assists – Katelyn Aakhus- (15)
Aces – Brooklyn Strem, Kasia Wilson- (1 each)
For Lake of the Woods
Kills – Paige Haack- (10), Kenzie Pieper- (9), Chloe Johnson- (5)
Blocks – Jaynie Ferrier- (2)
Digs – Brooklyn Hasbargen- (14), Bailey Husbands- (8)
Assists – Bailey Husbands- (14), Kayman Sonstegard- (12)
Aces – Brooklyn Hasbargen- (3), Paige Haack- (3)
