Hayfield volleyball team sweeps Blooming Prairie to get to semifinals
Published 10:45 pm Thursday, October 27, 2016
- Hayfield’s Maggie Streightiff hits against Blooming Prairie in game three of their Section 1A West quarterfinal matchup Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
HAYFIELD — The No. 2 seeded Hayfield volleyball team is very familiar with playing matches under the big lights in Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. But that doesn’t mean the team can’t enjoy playing in Hayfield Gym as well.
The Vikings (22-5 overall) swept No. 7 Blooming Prairie by scores of 25-9, 25-16, 25-14 in a Section 1A West quarterfinal Thursday and Hayfield will now play No. 3 Medford in a Section 1A West semifinal in Mayo Civic Center 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Blooming Prairie’s Kylie Forystek keeps the ball in play in game three against Hayfield in their of their Section 1A West quarterfinal matchup Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield’s Maggie Streightiff served the first eight points and the last five points of the first set to get the Vikings going early on. Carrie Rutlegde added 10 kills in the win for Hayfield.
“I love playing our last home game and winning,” Rutledge said. “Then we get to go on to Rochester and play on a bigger court. That’s awesome.”
BP (8-17 overall) pulled to within 12-9 in the second set after Sam Wurst put down a kill, but the Blossoms couldn’t get any closer. Hayfield jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the final set.
Hayfield’s Carrie Rutledge scores a kill past Blooming Prairie’s Leah Inwards in game three of their Section 1A West quarterfinal matchup Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield had six players tally at least three kills in Thursday’s win as the Vikings found their flow.
“We gel pretty well together,” said Olivia Matti, who had three kills and seven digs. “We’re a close team and we have really good team bond. No matter who we’re playing we want to have the mind-set to play our best.”
Hayfield beat Medford in four sets Aug. 29 and the Vikings are hoping to get to the finals, where they would face the winner of Faribault Bethlehem Academy and Grand Meadow.
Blooming Prairie’s Bria Baldwin receives a serve in game two of their Section 1A West quarterfinal match against Hayfield in Hayfield Thursday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“Tonight was an opportunity for us to see how we match up,” Hayfield head coach Jeremy Struck said. “I think we have a very good blend of seniors with a very strong junior class. BA has been our kryptonite and we might look better than them. I think we’ve got our best chance this year.”
Hayfield stats: Carrie Rutledge, 10 kills, 2 assists, 8 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace; Kate Kruger, 8 kills, 2, digs, 4 blocks; Maggie Streightiff, 5 kills, 17 assists, 9 digs, 4 blocks, 3, aces; Emily Sprau, 4 kills, 2 assists, 2 digs, Olivia Matti, 3 kills, 7 digs, 3 blocks, 2 aces; Katrina Thoe, 3 kills, 2 digs, 1 block; Alexis Dudycha, 13 assists
BP stats: Courtney Wobschall 7 kills, 2 blocks; Sam Wurst 6 kills, 2 blocks; Marissa Larson 4 kills; Bria Baldwin 17 digs; Leah Inwards 10 assists 14 digs; Leah Schiefert 6 assists, 8 digs
Blooming Prairie’s Aryen Ingvalson hits the ball in game one against Hayfield in their Section 1A West quarterfinal matchup Thursday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com