Battled-tested Mabel-Canton holds off Alden-Conger in Section 1, Class 1A semifinal volleyball match

Nov. 2—ROCHESTER — The Mabel-Canton volleyball team is used to pressure situations and playing against bigger teams so the Cougars are not easily rattled.

Mabel-Canton's cool demeanor was on full display Thursday as the top seeded Cougars held off No. 5 Alden-Conger 3-2 in Section 1, Class 1A semifinal play at Mayo Civic Center. M-C won the match 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 15-9.

"I felt we were pretty battle-tested going into this game," M-C coach Lonnie Morken said. "But we knew Alden-Conger was going to play great defense and play a great game. We didn't think we were going to get out with a 3-0 sweep."

A year ago Mabel-Canton (34-1) placed third in the state in Class A with roughly the same team that returned this season.

"We play a tough schedule and we don't get rattled," Morken said.

Despite their experience, the Cougars do not have any seniors on their team. But they have faced a lot of quality teams and gone against plenty of stellar players during the last two seasons. Plus they have complete faith in each other.

"We stay together, that's a huge part of it," M-C junior Saijal Slafter said. "We are super mentally tough and we never turn our backs on each other. We never have any doubt. We never go out there and think we're going to lose; that's not an option."

Alden-Conger sent a wave of big players at the net at the Cougars, but 5-foot-10 Kinley Soiney and the 5-8 Slafter were up to the task for M-C. The pair combined for a whopping 58 kills in the match.

Soiney, a sophomore, had 34 kills while Slafter added 24.

"It awesome to know that I can just throw the ball up to them and they're going to get a kill," M-C junior setter Saraha Morken said. Morken finished with 66 set assists.

Soiney and Slafter had a number of huge kills all match long despite facing A-C's big lineup.

"You can't get intimidated," Slafter said. "You just have to work on the block and use angles the best you can. And we scout a lot to figure out what we're up against."

Alden-Conger made a lot of its runs in the match when Soiney, M-C's top hitter all season, was in the back row. But she returned to the front row when the Cougars held a slim 11-9 lead in the fifth set. M-C then closed with a 4-0 run and Soiney had a block and then a big kill in the deciding rally.

"I told Saraha I wanted the ball and it was going to be a kill," Soiney said. "I just had confidence in my team and myself."

Soiney had kills to close out M-C wins in both sets two and three during the match.

"I pretty confident in my team that we can always do this," Soiney said.

Alden-Conger (24-6) had four players with 10 or more kills. Cearra Grunzke led the way with 21 and Alyvia Newman added 14.

"They made no errors so we had to keep balls off the floor and keep defending," Saraha Morken said.

"It was unbelievable," coach Morken said. "... That was just a great team. They were able to get their attackers the ball and they kept swinging away. But we just stuck with it and I'm super-proud of our girls."

Mabel-Canton will face No. 3 Fillmore Central (23-7) in the section title game 10 a.m. Saturday at Mayo Civic Center.

Mabel-Canton 3, Alden Conger 2

Alden Conger-Glenville Emmons#25#20#23#25#9

Mabel-Canton#22#25#25#18#15

No. 5 Alden Conger: Libby Bell 3 kills, 2 aces; Macy Mattson 12 kills, 3 blocks; Alyvia Newman 14 kills, Madison Hendrick 2 kills, 2 aces; Ashley Newman 10 kills, 1 block; Cearra Grunzke 21 kills.

No. 1 Mabel-Canton: Sahara Morken 66 assists, 14 digs, 4 aces; Lydia Vatland 12 digs; Tylar Wenthold 6 kills; Ava Jacobsen 17 digs; Kailey Ingvalson 5 kills, 14 digs; Saijal Slafter 24 kills, 12 digs; Kinley Soiney 34 kills, 16 digs.

Third-seeded Fillmore Central avenged a 2-1 loss to No. 2 Kenyon-Wanamingo during the regular season with a 3-1 victory in the section semifinals on Thursday.

The win moves the Falcons (23-7) into Saturday's championship match with No. 1 Mabel-Canton. Fillmore Central topped the Knights 25-6, 27-25, 20-25, 25-21.

Falcons coach Travis Malley thought his squad started slow in the quarterfinal round, but that certainly wasn't the case against K-W.

"I think we felt more calm and comfortable tonight even though they're a really good team," Malley said. "But I think we played better and more relaxed."

Malley thought his squad did a nice job of keeping their edge despite winning the first set handily at 25-6.

"They didn't get too complacent," he said. "I thought they really came out and played hard and played together."

Kenyon-Wanamingo coach Tracy Erlandson said her squad came out very flat in the first set.

"These girls have never given up all season, but when you come out like that, when you come out flat, it's kind of hard to get yourself back," Erlandson said. "They fought hard ... but Fillmore was a good team, they were ready to play and they covered great and didn't let a lot of things drop."

Fillmore Central senior Kammry Broadwater came into the match 28 kills from 1,000 for her career. She reached the milestone with a huge match as she smashed 31 kills in just four sets against the Knights.

Rachel Ryan had 40 digs for K-W but the Knights did not have anyone reach double figures in kills. Malley said the Falcons' defense was a big reason for keeping the K-W hitters in check.

Kyla Hellickson had 34 digs for the Falcons and Lily Miller added 23. Alyssa Britton chipped in with 14 kills and added 10 ace serves.

Fillmore did not face Mabel-Canton, the defending section champs, during the regular season.

"Lonnie's (Morken) a great coach," Malley said. "It's going to be a heck of a battle. Hopefully we come ready to play."

Fillmore Central 3, Kenyon-Wanamingo 1

Fillmore Central#25#27#20#25

Kenyon-Wanamingo#6#25#25#21

No. 3 Fillmore Central: Kyla Hellickson 2 assists, 34 digs, 2 aces; Ella Dahly 4 kills, 2 digs; Lily Miller 23 digs; Brooklyn Simon 1 dig; Izabelle Nagel 2 kills, 7 digs, 1 block; Aubrey Daniels 1 kill, 31 assists, 13 digs; Kathryn Pickett 1 kill, 20 assists, 8 digs; Kammry Broadwater 31 kills, 17 digs, 1 block, 1 ace; Alyssa Britton 14 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks, 10 aces; Annika Mensink 4 kills, 4 digs, 1 block; Cora Britton 1 dig.

No. 2 Kenyon-Wanamingo: Rachel Ryan 1 kills, 6 assists, 40 digs, 2 aces; Mali Quam 1 kills, 7 digs, 1 block, 2 aces; Carmen Nerison 1 kills, 16 assists, 12 digs, 1 ace; Audrey Haugen 3 kills, 3 digs, 1 block; Josie Flom 5 kills, 20 digs, 2 blocks; Norah Rechtzigel 8 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace; Anna Syverson 2 kills, 3 digs; Addy Lindell 3 kills, 5 digs.