The Minnewaska Area volleyball team lost a three-game match at Sauk Centre last Tuesday, ending any chance for the Lakers to earn at least a share of the WCC title.

The Lakers, who fell at home to the Mainstreeters in five games earlier this season, needed a win over Sauk Centre to give them a possibility of battling for the conference championship.

Minnewaska came back two nights later with a 25-23, 25-11, 25-23 home win over Melrose Area, putting the team’s conference record at 8-3 with three league matches remaining.

The Lakers, who are 11-4 overall, were also set to play at the Alexandria Invitational, Saturday, but results of that competition will be highlighted  next week.

This week, the pace of the schedule slows down a little as the Lakers are set to host Morris Area-CA, Tuesday (tomorrow) and play at BOLD, Thursday, Oct. 10.

For a look at possible section opponents, turn to page 2B for Speaking of Sports.

Sauk Centre 3, Waska 0

The Lakers lost out on a chance to share the WCC title after losing at Sauk Centre last Tuesday night, 25-9, 25-15, 25-11.  It was the first three-game loss for the Lakers this season.

The last time these two teams met, Sauk Centre rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Lakers in five games.

Minnewaska had a kill percentage of 10 percent with Dacia Fleury leading the way with seven kills and Mya VanLuik adding four kills and the only block on the night for the Lakers.

Berlynn Green added three kills and Haillie Schulz had two without any errors, while Avery  Lewison and Eliana Marthaler also had kills for the Lakers.

Emma Poegel had 11 digs to lead the defense, with VanLuik adding seven and Green saving five, while Schulz had a team-best 11 set assists and Fleury and Noyes both had one ace-serve.

Sauk Centre has one league loss after the match with Minnewaska Area, while the Lakers have three and second-place WCA has two.

Waska 3, Melrose 0

The Lakers dominated a match with Melrose, Thursday night at home, although two of the games were decided by 25-23 scores.

Dacia Fleury and Haillie Schulz led the way for the Lakers, but Minnewaska Area also continues to shine with its great team depth.

Fleury had 17 kills with only six errors on 45 attempts for a kill percentage of 24 percent.  She also had eight digs.  Schulz meanwhile, had two kills with no errors, 29 set assists, 16 digs and one block.

The Lakers had 10 blocks on the night with Avery Lewison and Emma Hellermann putting back 2.5 blocks each and Mya VanLuik adding two blocks along with seven kills.

Addy Kath supplied four kills and one block, while Lewison also had three kills and Emma Hellermann had two without any errors.

Emma Poegel continues to shine on defense with 19 digs, while Berlynn Green had 13 digs and a block, Brooklyn Noyes had 12 digs and Eliana Marthaler was also in double-digits with 10.

The Lakers did not have any ace-serves, but Minnewaska Area did have a great night serving, putting in 96 percent of its serves.

at Sauk Centre 3, Waska 0

Minnewaska (10-4) 9 15 11

Sauk Centre 25 25 25

WASKA STATS  (good-attempts-aces):  Serving (aces):   Brooklyn  Noyes 1, Dacia Fleury 1 . . . 85% serving . . . Set assists:  Schulz 11, Emma Poegel 2, Eliana Marthaler 1, Noyes 1, Berlynn Green 1

Hitting:  Fleury 31-35-7, Mya VanLuik 13-16-4, Green 6-6-3, Schulz 3-3-2, Avery Lewison 5-6-1, Marthaler 2-3-1 . . . 10%kill% . . . Digs:  Poegel 11, VanLuik 7, Green 5, Schulz 4, Noyes 3, Addy Kath 1, Marthaler 1 . . Blocks (aces):  VanLuik 1

—————————-

at Waska 3, Melrose Area 0

Melrose 23 11 23

Minnewaska (11-4) 25 25 25

WASKA STATS  (good-attempts-aces):  Serving (aces):   None . . . 96%. . . Set assists:  Haillie Schulz 29, Dacia Fleury 2, Emma Poegel 2

Hitting:  Fleury 39-45-17, Mya VanLuik 16-23-7, Addy Kath 11-13-4, Avery Lewison 11-14-3, Emma Hellermann 6-6-2, Schulz 11-11-2, Berlynn Green 16-18-1 . . . 12%kill% . . . Digs: Emma Poegel 19, Schulz 16, Green 13, Brooklyn Noyes 12, Eliana Marthaler 10, Fleury 8, VanLuik 3, Hellermann 3, Lewison 2 . . Blocks (aces):  Lewison 2.5, Hellermann 2.5, VanLuik 2, Schulz 1, Green 1, Kath 1

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!