Tigers turn tables on Brainerd
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
In Jared Diem's first year as head coach the Brainerd Warriors won four games and were the No. 6 seed in the North Subsection 8-3A tournament.
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Brainerd took a step forward this fall, winning nine games and earning the No. 4 seed.
What Diem and the Warriors really wanted was the program's first subsection tournament victory since 2003. And, the Warriors thought they had a chance to accomplish that as they hosted No. 5 St. Cloud Tech, a team they swept Sept. 17, in the opening round Wednesday.
But it was a different Tech team than six weeks ago, more aggressive and more determined as it beat the Warriors 3-1.
"They were so scrappy tonight," Diem said of Tech. "I won't say they outworked us, it was just that we would put something down, they would dig it up ... then we would have one of those unforced errors. (Tech wasn't) making many errors tonight.
Brainerd's Sydnie Mauch (6) slammed the ball past Steph Strandberg (11) of St. Cloud Tech in the North Subsection 8-3A tournament. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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"To beat Tech 3-0 at the beginning of the year gave us a lot of confidence. I don't even want to say overconfidence because they were great-played games. Their coach (Kristy Klein) was sick, they were playing for (Klein) tonight, she wasn't even at the game. They came in with a little bit of revenge. That's always one of those X factors you can't do anything about sometimes."
Tech won the first game 25-23, taking an 18-17 lead and holding on for the win.
Brainerd led for much of Game Two before the Tigers grabbed a 17-16 lead and went on to a 25-19 win.
The Warriors bounced back in Game Three, leading almost from start to finish for a 25-15 win.
Tech seized a 3-1 lead in the fourth game and cruised to a 25-15 win.
Brainerd's Tess Rahto (left), Sydnie Mauch and Hannah Kangas reacted on the sidelines when St. Cloud Tech scored the winning point in the North Subsection 8-3A volleyball tournament Wednesday. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Unforced errors, once again, led to the Warriors' downfall.
"We would have these great runs," Diem said. "In the first two sets we were leading in the beginning, then it was errors. It wasn't even calling the ball errors, it was like what do you do with the ball when it's out of the system? We have young players that haven't had a lot of experience, making those simple mistakes. That's something we can work on in practice though.
"What I liked to see, though, was we were pounding the ball today. We just didn't have the blocking, the blocks weren't around. The second set we had four service errors in a row at like 16 points. That hurts hard when you're trying to get that momentum back."
Hallsey Olson had 17 digs, Alanna Hansen 29 set assists, Sydnie Mauch 17 kills and six blocks and Alice Widmark 10 kills and 12 digs to lead Brainerd.
Tech 3, Warriors 1
The key: The Tigers regrouped from a 3-0 loss to Brainerd Sept. 17.
Overall: Brd 9-15, Tech 8-14
Next: Brainerd in North Subsection 8-3A tournament at No. 1 Moorhead 7 p.m. Friday.
"Hallsey Olson had an all-star game, an all-state performance," Diem said. "She was everywhere. Her serve receive was pinpoint, big props for her. It was awesome to watch her as a senior finish her career with such a great game."
Widmark, Mikinzie Hradsky and Tess Rahto also played their final games as Warriors.
"We lose some big hitters," Diem said. "Tess is a huge hitter, she's just a huge, aggressive player for our team, and Alice, with her consistent outside play and digging ability. Mikinzie, with her decisive serving, is just a real gamer."
The Warriors will return Carlie Sweet, Hansen, Trisha Kramer, Mauch, Allison Mueller and Hannah Kangas from the tournament team.
"We lose a lot, but we also gain a lot," Diem said. "These juniors, who have been playing together since eighth grade, Sweet, Kramer, Hansen, Mueller, they want it so bad. They've already talked about getting in the gym, getting in the weight room, doing what they can in the offseason to turn this program around."
St. Cloud Tech 25 25 15 25
Brainerd 23 19 25 15
Brainerd statistics
Hallsey Olson 1 set assist, 1 ace, 2 kills, 17 digs
Carlie Sweet 1 set assist, 2 aces, 2 kills, 6 digs
Alanna Hansen 29 set assists, 3 aces, 1 kill, 12 digs
Sydnie Mauch 17 kills, 4 digs, 6 blocks
Alice Widmark 10 kills, 12 digs, 1 block
Mikinzie Hradsky 3 aces, 1 kill, 7 digs
Tess Rahto 4 set assists, 3 kills, 2 digs, 1.5 blocks
Allison Mueller 1 ace, 6 kills, 1 dig, 1.5 blocks
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.