Kenyon-Wanamingo sweeps Rushford-Peterson to advance to section semifinals

Oct. 31—ROCHESTER — Kenyon-Wanamingo coach Tracy Erlandson wasn't too thrilled with her team's play in the first round of Section 1, Class 1A volleyball last week and she told her team about it during practice.

Erlandson was much more pleased with the second-seeded Knights' play in a 3-0 victory over No. 7 Rushford-Peterson in the section quarterfinals on Tuesday at Mayo Civic Center. The Knights defeated R-P 25-11, 25-21, 25-17.

K-W, the No. 2 seed, had swept past Blooming Prairie 3-0 last week as well, but that win wasn't as satisfying for Erlandson.

"We struggled a little bit last Thursday," Erlandson admitted. "But I feel like tonight we did a really good job of coming together, trusting each other and just doing our job and playing our game. Not anyone else's, but our game."

The Knights had worked on blocking, coverage plays and service receiving leading up to the match with Rushford-Peterson. The preparation paid off.

"I thought tonight they did a really nice job of putting all that together and having a really nice game," Erlandson said.

K-W senior middle hitter Norah Rechtzigel said the Knights took the coach's words to heart during the inspired quarterfinal victory.

"We wanted to keep the momentum all of the game and just have energy, work together and push through it," she said.

Erlandson said a big part of Tuesday's win was each player was more in tune with their role and played with more confidence.

"Sometimes I think when we get to tournament time, in their heads they think 'Oh my gosh, if we lose, we're done.' But we have to play to win," Erlandson said. "You just play to win and you work hard and you work together."

Rechtzigel was a major force in the middle of the court. She smashed 15 kills to pace K-W while Addy Lindell added seven kills.

"Norah did a really nice job for us," Erlandson said. "Even a touch for us is huge as it helps our back row."

Rechtzigel and Lindell both had three blocks. They led the defense up front but the Knights were also strong in the back row. Rachel Ryan had 23 digs while Josie Flom added 22.

"We used our middle a lot and that was big for us," Rechtzigel said.

The Knights controlled play most of the way and seldom trailed the entire match.

Senior Tayler Helgemore led R-P with nine kills and four blocks. She had a surge of three blocks and a kill in a 7-0 run which gave the Trojans a brief 16-15 in the second set before the Knights recovered.

"It was nice to have her on when we made our comeback," first year R-P coach Jenny Lee said. "But we just struggled to get the ball in the court. We just came out flat."

Kenyon-Wanamingo (25-2) will face No. 3 Fillmore Central in the section semifinals at 7:30 pm. Thursday at Mayo Civic Center. Fillmore slipped past No. 6 Faribault Bethlehem Academy 3-2 on Tuesday night.

"Hopefully we keep this energy into the next game and keep pushing forward," Rechtzigel said.

Rushford-Peterson closes the season 14-13.

Kenyon-Wanamingo 3, Rushford-Peterson 0

Rushford-Peterson#11#21#17

Kenyon-Wanamingo#25#25#25

No. 7 Rushford-Peterson: Lindsey Hoiness 5 kills, 13 digs; Torryn Schneider 17 digs; Ava Drazkowski 9 assists; Josie Brown 3 kills, 1 ace; Ava Helgemoe 3 kills, 1 block; Tayler Helgemoe 9 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace; Rebecca Magin 5 kills; Kayla Magin 10 assists.

No. 2 Kenyon-Wanamingo: Rachel Ryan 3 assists, 23 digs, 1 ace; Mali Quam 8 digs; Carmen Nerison 2 kills, 23 assists, 11 digs, 1 ace; Audrey Haugen 2 digs, 1 block, 7 aces; Josie Flom 5 kills, 2 assists, 22 digs; Norah Rechtzigel 15 kills, 4 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace; Anna Syverson 5 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks; Kendal Johnson 3 digs, 3 blocks; Addy Lindell 7 kills; Emilie Jarvis 1 assist, 7 digs.