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| Ruthie Schmitt averaged 22.4 set assists per match (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
The Tigers 4-1 run in the day-long tourney raised their season record to 16-10, one more win they had all of last season.
Coach Mike Woody's team started the day by winning both matches in pool play, downing Ellsworth, Wisconsin 25-14 and 25-13 and Rochester Lourdes 25-20, 25-20.
In bracket play, they again went 2-0, opening with a 25-12, 25-23 win over Waterville-Elysian-Morristown followed by a 27-25, 19-25, 15-10 defeat of Regis, Wisconsin.
The Tigers started the championship match in style with a 25-13 win before the Crusaders came back to win games two and three 25-15 and 15-7.
"We played well all day long," coach Mike Woody said. "We passed well which allowed us to run a balanced offense. We handled adversity well, coming back from a 6-17 deficit to win game two against Regis.
"We also played well in the championship, but our passing slipped a little in games two and three which allowed St. Croix to set up their defense against our outside hitters. All in all, it was a great day."
Kenzie Hesse totaled 56 kills in the tourney game to lead the Tiger offense. Emma Fahning added 31 points via kills. Fahning also chipped in with a team-high seven service aces for the day.
Setter Ruthie Schmitt continued to do a good job getting the ball to her teammates and finished with 122 assists, a 24.4 per game average.
Fahning (39) and Hesse (37) combined for 76 digs in the five matches. Diana Comes added 26. Fahning had 45 serve receptions, Hesse 39 and April Ripley 25.
Morgan Cecchittini was tops in blocks with 14, two more than Vanessa Garske. Schmitt finished with nine and Summer Skokan had eight.
The Tigers return to Missota Conference action Thursday night with a road match at Holy Angels before returning home next Tuesday for their regular season finale against Shakopee. Section 1AAA begins October 23.
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| Emma Fahning 31 kills, 39 digs, 45 serve receptions (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
