Rebels place second in home volleyball invite

Southland had to settle for second place as it lost two matches to Mabel/Canton as it hosted an eight-team volleyball tournament in Adams Saturday.

Southland (8-10 overall) beat Blooming Prairie for the third time this season in the semifinals when it won 25-22, 26-28, 15-9, but it lost to M/C in the title match 22-25, 25-15, 15-8.

“The girls were on fire Saturday. Aggressive blocking and digging in the back row were the keys to our success,” Southland head coach Angie Smith said.

In pool play, Southland beat Alden/Conger 20-25, 25-18, 15-11, topped Medford 25-22, 25-21, 15-10, and fell to M/C 25-22, 25-18, 14-16.

Southland senior Kellie Shawback, who finished with 25 kills and 12 blocks, was selected to the All-Tournament team by the coaches.

BP (7-7 overall) finished third in the tournament after beating Alma, Wis. 25-13, 25-11 in the third place match. BP swept its pool play matches – beating Alma, Wis. 25-16, 25-17, 15-5, topping Plainview/Elgin/Millville 25-16, 25-17, 15-10 and beating Lyle/Pacelli 25-22, 28-26, 15-5.

“Overall we had a really nice day. We played well throughout the day and never appeared tired,” BP head coach Gina McLaughlin said. “We got to practice some of those 15 point games in pool play that I think will help us as we continue to push through the season.”

The Awesome Blossoms had three players on the all-tournament team as junior hitter Janelle Morem and freshmen Madison Worke, a setter, and Taylor Hagen, made the team as well.

Morem served six aces during a 12-point serving run against L/P, which took seventh in the tournament.

Southland stats: Madi Schmitz, 13 blocks, 14 digs, 20 kills, 7 ace serves, 47 assists; Lindsey Bottema, 30 digs, 3 kills, 3 ace serves, 31 assists; Kellie Shawback, 12 blocks, 25 kills; Kelli Smith, 19 digs, 1 kill, 4 ace serves; Celina Yunker, 2 blocks, 49 digs, 26 kills; Elizabeth May, 5 blocks, 4 digs, 13 Kills; Kelly Gray, 25 digs, 2 kills, 1 ace serve; Hannah Hamilton, 21 digs, 1 kill; Hilary Bottema, 1 block, 10 kills; Haley Kirkpatrick, 8 blocks, 7 digs 11 kills, 2 ace serves; Kara Sathre, 1 block, 4 digs, 2 kills

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