Packers lock up most winning volleyball season in two decades

Published 9:05 am Sunday, October 13, 2024

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The Packer volleyball team made program history when it clinched its most winning season in at least 20 years after it went 6-0 at the Saint Anthony Village Tournament.

Austin (16-12 overall) beat Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead 25-23, 20-25, 15-11 in the title match.

“I’m so incredibly proud of these girls and they should be proud of themselves,” Austin head coach Nichelle Gabrielson said. “They showed resilience all day long, it didn’t matter what the score was, they were working hard. We had amazing plays and comebacks, the hustle was incredible, but most importantly we were having fun. Other coaches and parents were coming up to me impressed with our intensity and hustle and making comments about how fun we were to watch, and as a coach that’s a huge compliment. The girls’ hard work so far this season definitely paid off, they earned this today.”

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On their way to the championship, the Packers beat Park Center 25-10, 25-17, they beat Western Lutheran 25-23, 25-16, they topped St. Croix Prep 25-15, 25-18, they beat Western Lutheran a second time by a score of 20-25, 25-15 and they beat Pine Island 25-18, 25-15.

With just one regular season game left at Rochester Century at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, the Packers have clinched their first season with a winning record since the 2008-2009 season when Gabrielson was a member of the team.

Austin stats: Quinn Osgood 61 kills, Isabella Bolster 41 kills, 12 solo blocks, Lexi Brede 40 digs, Addison Walsh 89 digs, Haleigh Holman 56 assists, Elizabeth Clennon 69 assists, Katara Fischer 22 kills