ST. CLOUD — Jenna Degen served an untouched game-winning ace for the third time this season and the Brainerd Warriors registered a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the St. Cloud Tech Tigers in a Central Lakes Conference match Thursday.
Brainerd dropped the first two sets 25-17 and 30-28 before fighting back to take the next three 25-18, 25-13 and 16-14.
Degen’s ace was her only one of the night, but she added eight kills and 22 set assists.
“This was a complete bittersweet night, however,” said Brainerd coach Jared Diem, “because at the end of the second set we lost Tedi Ramberg to an injury. My thoughts and prayers really go out to her.
“Being down two, and losing one of our best players, we could have folded, but the girls responded like Warriors, especially our seniors (Courtney Ryan, Mikaela Chandler, Taylor Johnshoy and Hannah Kangas). They showed true leadership and gave confidence to the younger players and to me as a coach.”
Ryan finished with a match-high 12 kills and 15 digs. Chandler stuffed five blocks along with five kills and Johnshoy contributed nine kills and 12 digs. Kangas served a trio of aces and put up 22 set assists.
Before her injury, Ramberg had 3.5 blocks and three kills.
St. Cloud Tech 25 30 18 13 14
Brainerd 17 28 25 25 16
Brainerd statistics
Mikaela Chandler 5 kills, 1 dig, 5 blocks, 1 set assist
Madison Brown 8 digs
Jenna Degen 8 kills, 1 ace serve, 7 digs, 1.5 blocks, 22 set assists
Madison Stall 1 ace serve, 8 digs
Hannah Kangas 1 kill, 3 ace serves, 6 digs, 22 set assists
Heather Fletcher 7 kills, 4.5 blocks, 1 set assist
Courtney Ryan 12 kills, 2 ace serves, 15 digs, 1.5 blocks
Tedi Ramberg 3 kills, 1 ace serve, 3.5 blocks
Taylor Johnshoy 9 kills, 2 ace serves, 12 digs, 1 block
Paige Rivers 2 ace serves
Faith Kassulker 2 kills, 1 set assist
Conference: Brd 4-2. Overall: Brd 10-9. Next: Brainerd at Sartell 7 p.m. Tuesday.
