Spikers Settle for Third
The Prior Lake volleyball team can look at the loaded Eagle Invitational two different ways.
The No. 3-ranked Lakers can be disappointed in their three-set loss in the semifinals Sept. 20 to No. 1 Eden Prairie (22-25, 25-19, 15-11), considering they won the first set and was up 11-8 in set two.
Prior Lake can also be pleased with its 3-1 overall mark, including beating No. 2 Chaska in the third-place match (25-23, 25-23). it's the Lakers' second win this season over the Hawks, also a Section 2AA foe.
Prior Lake also beat Class 1A's No. 1-ranked team in Bethlehem Academy in three-sets (15-25, 25-16, 15-7) in pool play Sept. 19, along with sweeping Blaine (25-21, 25-20).
The invite featured seven ranked Class 3A teams, including No. 8 Hopkins, the invite champs beating Eden Prairie in three sets for the crown.
Fourth-ranked Eagan, No. 5 Lakeville South and No. 8 Roseville were also in the field, along with Marshall, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A.
The Lakers (14-2 overall) will return to South Suburban Conference action Sept. 23 at Shakopee at 7 p.m. Prior Lake is off to a 4-0 start in league play.
Meanwhile, at the invite, juniors Lara Schultz and Ella Francis led the offense finishing with 39 kills apiece in the four matches. Francis had 13 kills and Schultz had 12 in beating Chaska.
Baring a collapse, the Lakers look in solid position for the No. 1 or 2 seed in Section 2AAA with their two wins over the Hawks. Seventh-ranked Delano (11-1), last year's Class 3A state runner-up, is also in the mix for the top-two seeds.
Schultz also had a team-best seven ace serves at the invite and had three blocks. Francis had two blocks.
Senior Brittany Luethmers was stellar on defense with a team-high 64 digs in the four matches. She also had two ace serves.
Junior Olivia Spanton finished with 17 kills, 20 digs and two ace serves. Ninth-grader CC McGraw had 13 kills, 25 digs and two aces.
Sophomore Anna Martin finished with 12 kills, while ninth-grader Kayla Bair had four. Senior Sammi Pratt finished with 51 set assists and 19 digs, while sophomore Ellie Veldman had 47 assists and 12 digs.
Following the match with Shakopee, the Lakers are at Southwest Christian Sept. 25 in non-league play at 7 p.m.
To see more photos of the Lakers against Eden Prairie, go to Scoreboard's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.871044752920876.1073742216.197190936972931&type=3.
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