KoMets volleyball team headed to state

Top-seeded Kasson-Mantorville took-down No. 2 Stewartville on Saturday, November 6, in the Section 1AAA volleyball championship match at Mayo Civic Center.

Kasson-Mantorville, with the resounding victory, earned a state berth. The girls captured a 3-0 sweep, with set scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-19. The two Hiawatha Valley League rivals, ranked No. 2 and 3 in the state in Class AAA, had played a thrilling five-set match during the regular season. That made the KoMets sweep in the section finals somewhat improbable.

But this time, the top-seeded and second-ranked KoMets found a way to sneak past Stewartville in three close and long sets. Whittney Deno led the team with 16 kills and 25 digs. Libero Cate Wanous chipped-in with 20 digs.

After the KoMets pulled out a close first set, Stewartville had an excellent chance to win the second set. The Tigers jumped out to a 17- 10 lead before K-M battled back. Ellie Ask, who finished with 13 kills, had five kills in the final half of the second set; while Larson added three.