Minnesota Peak Performers: Thursday 9/27 Matches

<p>Several athletes offered up star performances around the state on Thursday. Here are some of the highlights:</p> <p><strong>Evany Luna MB | Fulda | 2019</strong> ; <strong>Paetyn Smit 5'7 MH | Edgerton | 2019</strong><br /> After falling behind 1-2, Edgerton was able to force a fifth set. However, Fulda earned the 3-2 decision in closing out the match with set scores of 20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, and 15-7. Luna led the offensive point scoring for the Raiders with 16 kills. For the Flying Dutchmen, Smit had a big night with 20 kills.</p> <p><strong>Elli Stoel MB l CMCHS | 2020</strong> and <strong>Coco Duininck  S | CMCHS | 2022 </strong>; <strong>Karoline Dahl OH | Dawson-Boyd | 2021</strong><br /> Central Minnesota Christian hung on for a close five-set win over Dawson-Boyd. As both teams took turns dominating at times throughout the match, it was CMCHS that was able to earn the final-two point advantage in extra points to seal the victory. Set scores were 15-25, 25-14, 13-25, 25-23, 18-16. Duininck, just a freshman, tallied 30 assists for the match as Stoel converted several opportunities for 12 kills to lead the winners. D-B got a big effort from sophomore outside hitter Dahl with 22 kills.</p> <p><strong>Sara Kottke 5'9 MH | BLHS | 2020</strong> and <strong>Allison Dornseif S | BLHS</strong><br /> Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart earned the 3-1 win over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop with scores of 27-25, 18-25, 25-18, and 25-21. Dornseif averaged over 10 assists per set in dishing out 43 on the night. She had multiple attackers reach double-digit kills let by Kottke with 16 total. Kottke also added 12 digs as Dornseif collected eight in the win.</p> <p><strong>Julia Hanson OH | Prior Lake | 2022</strong> and <strong>Dezirae Spratt OH | Prior Lake | 2020</strong><br /> Hanson, just a freshman, led her team offensively with 16 kills as they defeated South Suburban Conference foe Apple Valley in a 3-0 sweep. Set scores were 25-20, 25-19, 25-10. Spratt also reached double figures in kills with 10 for the match. </p> <p><strong>Caitlin Schneeweis OH | Duluth Denfeld | 2019</strong> and <strong>Jordyn Maas S | Duluth Denfeld | 2019</strong> <br /> Duluth Denfeld got a big night from the senior pair of Schneeweis and Maas. Schneeweis made a statement with 20 kills and 21 digs as the Hunters beat the Lumberjacks 3-2. The fifth set needed extra points as Denfeld held on with scores of 25-16, 25-16, 21-25, 21-25, and 16-14. Maas distributed the ball effectively in totaling 51 assists for the match.</p> <p><strong>Claire Vekich MH | Greenway | 2021</strong><br /> Vekich earned a match-leading 22 kills as Greenway defeated Duluth East 25-21, 25-12, 25-10. Just a sophomore, Vekich is a returning Iron Range all-conference selection from 2017.</p> <p><strong>Kendra Hardy OH | AHS | 2019</strong>, <strong>Mac Duwenhogger OH | AHS | 2019,</strong> and <strong>Erika Roderick S | AHS | 2020</strong><br /> Hardy earned a double-double on the night in totaling 25 kills and 15 digs to lead Alexandria to 3-1 win over Sartell-St. Stephen. Duwenhogger added 16 kills as the Cardinals won by set scores of 25-17, 25-10, 23-25, and 25-20. Teammate Erika Roderick was the catalyst for Alexandria's offense with 49 assists. All three are 2017 Central Lakes all-conference honorees. </p> <p><strong>Bria Morris OH | Marshall | 2020</strong> and <strong>Rachel Schwarz S | Marshall | 2020</strong><br /> Marshall, currently ranked #4 in Minnesota Class AA, was led by Morris' 12 kills and the 19 digs and 19 assists from Schwarz in a victory over Jackson County Central. The 3-2 win was a back-and-forth affair before Marshall took control in the fifth set. Game scores were 25-20, 18-25, 25-12, 18-25, and 15-4. Marshall improves to 4-0 in the Big South Conference standings.</p> <p><strong>Bella Niemeyer MB | SMCHS | 2020</strong> and <strong>Jazlynn Prins OH | SMCHS | 2020</strong><br /> Niemeyer contributed in many facets of SWC's 3-2 win over Adrian. With 13 kills, five aces, and four blocks, Niemeyer and her SWC teammates handed Adrian their first loss in Red Rock Conference action. Prins was big once again on the offensive side with 19 kills for the match. Set scores were 25-21, 16-25, 25-11, 16-25 and 15-12.</p>