The inaugural season for boys’ volleyball is down to three remaining games.
On May 13, the StormHawks (5-14) hosted the Westonka White Hawks (5-4) in a Metro West conference matchup. These two teams played each other on April 17, with Westonka taking that match 3-0.
The StormHawks have been on an upswing since the first of the month. They were 2-2 in the Shakopee “Smashtastic” tournament, defeating St. Paul Como Park and Burnsville.
After a tough loss to United Christian on May 6, the StormHawks then went on to grab their first conference victory by defeating Benilde-St. Margaret’s 3-0 on May 8.
The first serve and volley indicated it would be a tight, hard-played game. The first set of the West Tonka match continued with back and forth serves and volleys. Westonka broke from a 10-8 StormHawk lead, took some hard fought volleys and strong serves to pull ahead with a 10-0 run to carry the first set 25-14.
With a team meeting and direction from coaches to “focus on each point, communicate with each other and have fun,” the StormHawks started the second set with renewed determination and intensity. This set had a great deal of back and forth, and in the end the StormHawks earned a 25-21 win.
Two very good teams played hard in the third and fourth sets. Chaska/Chan was in strong form for both sets with consistent serving, enthusiastic play, timely net work, and tenacity on digs and service returns. Westonka matched the StormHawks’ intensity and forced a few more plays to go their way.
Westonka won the third set, 25-20. The score was 18-17 in favor of the StormHawks in the fourth set with play trading off as it had all night. From that point on, Westonka would tie, Chaska/Chan would fight back and get a point. Then Westonka would tie again. For 11 serves and possessions the points changed hands.
At 21-21 Westyonka had a run of four points to take the game to 25-21 and win the match three sets to one.
“I am proud of the effort you all showed tonight,” Coach Sydney Dose said to the team following the content. “You didn’t give up and that was a strong effort.”
Assistant Coach Joe Wilson added, “There was a lot of good stuff out there tonight. We’ll work on the things we have to. Let’s look forward and keep the progress going. Well done.”
The StormHawks travel to New Prague on May 15 and host Bloomington Jefferson on May 20 to close out their regular season.
