In front of a raucous home crowd, the Chaska Hawks Girls Volleyball squad took the state’s top-ranked Lakeville North Panthers to the brink in a five-set instant classic, ultimately falling 3–2 (23–25, 22–25, 25–18, 26–24, 12–15).
The Hawks may have fallen just short on the scoreboard, but the performance they delivered Wednesday night inside the Chaska High School gym proved that this team can hang with the very best in the state.
The tone was set early that this match would be a good one. To-ranked Lakeville North eked out wins in the first two sets. Both were tight, back-and-forth battles that could have swung either way, but the Panthers closed hard in both sets for 25-23 and 25-22 victories.
Refusing to fold, Chaska roared back in the third set. Behind aggressive frontcourt play and crisp execution, the Hawks seized control, winning the set 25-18.
The fourth set was indicative of the entire match — a classic. Chaska surged to a six-point lead, only to see Lakeville North storm back and claim a late advantage. With the Panthers holding match point, the Hawks responded with poise — fighting off elimination and then capturing the final two points for a thrilling 26-24 win.
Senior captain Emma Hanson, who will play next year at Division I Eastern Illinois University, capped the drama with a decisive kill that sent the crowd into a frenzy and forced a winner-take-all, first-to-15 fifth set.
The decisive frame was a rollercoaster. The teams traded points for the first 16 serves. Chaska would score. The Panthers would break serve. Then the Hawks would break serve. It was a literal back-and-forth which resulted in a 8-8 tie. When Chaska grabbed a 10-8 edge, the upset seemed within reach. But Lakeville North showed why they’re ranked #1, clawing back to tie the set at 12-12 before closing on a 3-0 run to secure a 15-12 victory, and the match.
What stood out most for Chaska was the balance. The front court shined, led by Hanson’s timely kills, senior Mackenna Golden’s strong night of blocks and spikes, and steady play from junior standout Mollie Budde, sophomores Natalie Heyer and Finley Mathiasen, and freshman Britta Petersen. Golden, who is committed to Seattle Pacific University, was particularly impressive in one of her best games of the young season.
The back row was equally impressive. Junior Madison Pridon made several highlight-reel saves to keep points alive, while junior captain and libero Clara Christ anchored the defense. Junior Ali Leonard, sophomore Jaylyn Boyle, and freshman Brooke Bachmann all contributed to critical moments as well.
“It was an entire team effort,” said Head Coach Sue Murphy. “All 18 players were dialed in to support one another and that made a difference on the match.”
While the Hawks now sit at 3-7 on the season, their record doesn’t tell the whole story. Chaska has faced a gauntlet of top-ranked teams, and Wednesday’s near-upset of Lakeville North may signal a turning point.
And on this night, the Hawks showed they can go toe-to-toe with the very best in Minnesota — and nearly pulled off the biggest win of the season.
The Hawks Girls Volleyball team is back in action at New Prague HS on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. They also compete at the Apple Valley Invitational on Sept 19 and 20.
