PAGE: LOCAL SPORTS
VB Opens playoffs tonight
By Dan Condon (October 30, 2009)
If things go as planned, Redwood Falls will be the place to be Nov. 5.
That is when the No. 1 ranked Jackson County Central volleyball team would face the No. 2 ranked Marshall Tigers for the right to play in the Section 3AA championship.
The teams filled the top two spots in the Class AA poll most of the season, but only one will make it to the state tournament as both reside in the south portion of the Section 3AA tournament.
The Huskies open the tournament tomorrow (Friday) against eighth-seeded Fairmont at 6 p.m. in Jackson. With a win, the Huskies would face the winner between fourth-seeded Luverne and fifth-seeded Worthington. That match is scheduled for 6 p.m. next Monday in Windom. The Huskies swept all three teams when they played earlier this season.
On the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded Marshall opens with seventh-seeded New Ulm and with a win would face the winner between third-seeded Pipestone Area and sixth-seeded St. James.
The Huskies swept Pipestone and St. James, beat Marshall 3-2 in a thriller earlier this season and have not faced New Ulm.
All indications are that the Huskies and Tigers will meet in the South Section 3AA finals Nov. 5 in a rematch from last year when the Tigers beat the Huskies 3-1.
“Our toughest match through the road to state is going to be that match up in Redwood Valley,” JCC head coach Teresa VanEpps said.
Having beaten the Tigers earlier this season gives her team confidence, VanEpps said.
“I think it’s a huge benefit beating Marshall and continuing to excel throughout the season,” she said. “We know what we need to do to beat Marshall.”
The win over the Tigers in the Huskies’ third match of the season put them in position to win their first Southwest Conference title since 1999. The Huskies did just that, winning all six SWC matches this season.
While VanEpps said winning the conference was a “great feat,” she said it is just a step toward where her team wants to end up.
“Winning the conference is a great thing,” she said. “That’s the icing on the cake and we’re ready to put the candles on the cake. We’re setting our goal of getting to the state tournament and winning it.”
To do so, VanEpps said the Huskies will have to “serve aggressively and serve receive.”
“Those are the two things that will propel us to the state tournament,” VanEpps said.
Another important part of the Huskies’ game is taking care of business on their side of the net.
“Every game so far this year we’ve went out with the goal to take care of the ball on our side,” VanEpps said. “We want to pursue excellence. That’s how we prepare for each game. That’s how we’re preparing for Fairmont right now.”
VanEpps hopes the home crowd will be an advantage as the Huskies begin the playoffs tomorrow and that the crowd travels as the Huskies continue toward a trip to state.
“It’s awesome to have the home crowd,” she said. “We’re hoping to get the crowd rallied around us for the trip to Windom and then to Redwood.”
That is when the No. 1 ranked Jackson County Central volleyball team would face the No. 2 ranked Marshall Tigers for the right to play in the Section 3AA championship.
The teams filled the top two spots in the Class AA poll most of the season, but only one will make it to the state tournament as both reside in the south portion of the Section 3AA tournament.
The Huskies open the tournament tomorrow (Friday) against eighth-seeded Fairmont at 6 p.m. in Jackson. With a win, the Huskies would face the winner between fourth-seeded Luverne and fifth-seeded Worthington. That match is scheduled for 6 p.m. next Monday in Windom. The Huskies swept all three teams when they played earlier this season.
On the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded Marshall opens with seventh-seeded New Ulm and with a win would face the winner between third-seeded Pipestone Area and sixth-seeded St. James.
The Huskies swept Pipestone and St. James, beat Marshall 3-2 in a thriller earlier this season and have not faced New Ulm.
All indications are that the Huskies and Tigers will meet in the South Section 3AA finals Nov. 5 in a rematch from last year when the Tigers beat the Huskies 3-1.
“Our toughest match through the road to state is going to be that match up in Redwood Valley,” JCC head coach Teresa VanEpps said.
Having beaten the Tigers earlier this season gives her team confidence, VanEpps said.
“I think it’s a huge benefit beating Marshall and continuing to excel throughout the season,” she said. “We know what we need to do to beat Marshall.”
The win over the Tigers in the Huskies’ third match of the season put them in position to win their first Southwest Conference title since 1999. The Huskies did just that, winning all six SWC matches this season.
While VanEpps said winning the conference was a “great feat,” she said it is just a step toward where her team wants to end up.
“Winning the conference is a great thing,” she said. “That’s the icing on the cake and we’re ready to put the candles on the cake. We’re setting our goal of getting to the state tournament and winning it.”
To do so, VanEpps said the Huskies will have to “serve aggressively and serve receive.”
“Those are the two things that will propel us to the state tournament,” VanEpps said.
Another important part of the Huskies’ game is taking care of business on their side of the net.
“Every game so far this year we’ve went out with the goal to take care of the ball on our side,” VanEpps said. “We want to pursue excellence. That’s how we prepare for each game. That’s how we’re preparing for Fairmont right now.”
VanEpps hopes the home crowd will be an advantage as the Huskies begin the playoffs tomorrow and that the crowd travels as the Huskies continue toward a trip to state.
“It’s awesome to have the home crowd,” she said. “We’re hoping to get the crowd rallied around us for the trip to Windom and then to Redwood.”