PERHAM — The dictionary describes wolverines as extremely strong and fierce.
The defending Class 2A state champion Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines needed every bit of their strength and ferocity as they fought back to defeat No. 2 seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 3-2 in the South Subsection 8-2A final Tuesday. They are now one match away from their fifth straight state tournament appearance.
Emily Miron turned in a stellar performance blasting 29 kills and 18 blocks. Brittney Noon added another 27 kills and Heather Theisen put up 55 set assists to go with 19 digs.
The Wolverines fell behind 1-2 after the first three games before rallying to take game four 25-20 and then slammed the door shut on the Lady Rebels 15-4 in the decisive fifth game.
“We were struggling with their blocks,” said W-DC coach Sue Volkmann, “and we tried to so something different with our hitting (after the third game).
“We kind of took control of the momentum in the fourth and once we got to the fifth game, we settled in. We weren’t playing with so much emotion then and took an early lead and never let them get back in.”
The 25-4 Wolverines, seeded number one in the south subsection, will face Thief River Falls, 25-3 and seeded number one in the north subsection, in the Section 8-2A final 7 p.m. Saturday at Hawley.
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 26 22 25 20 4
Wadena-Deer Creek 24 25 17 25 15
Wadena-Deer Creek statistics
Caitlin Volkmann 4 kills, 20 digs, 1 block
Melissa Moenkedick 1 kill, 5 digs, 9 blocks
Hope Theisen 28 digs
Brittney Noon 27 kills, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 2 ace serves
Sydney Schissel 11 digs, 2 ace serves
Avery Jackson 4 kills, 16 digs, 7 blocks
Heather Theisen 19 digs, 55 set assists
Emily Miron 29 kills, 4 digs, 18 blocks
Overall: WDC 25-4. Next: Wadena-Deer Creek vs Thief River Falls in Section 8-2A final at Hawley 7 p.m. Saturday.
