MVL ready for RWC

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

REDWOOD FALLS -- In post-season tournament play, high seedings make a team look good on the playoff bracket, but they still make the teams play the game.

Sleepy Eye St. Mary's and Comfrey proved high seedings don't always guarantee victory. On Saturday, the 6th-seeded Knights knocked off 2nd-seeded Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin in the Section 2A South Subsection volleyball tournament, while 4th seeded Comfrey upset the top-ranked Mankato Loyola team.

Their success should be an inspiration today the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers, who face top-seeded Renville County West in the Section 3AA North Subsection playoffs. Game time is 6 p.m. at Redwood Falls.

MVL coach Julie Detjen thinks there could be another upset in the making today.

"I saw Renville County West play Buffalo Lake-Hector earlier in the year and jotted several things down. I saw some of the same tendencies in later games. I told the girls that if anyone can take them, we can."

Detjen thinks Renville County West hasn't many teams that are as strong along the front line as the Chargers. Renville County West has one girl up front who stands 6-2. So does MVL.

"I think overall we're taller and stronger along the front line and we'll try to get some mismatches in our favor, as we did against Redwood Valley on Friday," said Detjen.

"I did notice some holes that other teams haven't been able to take advantage of, and we've been working on setting some things up."

MVL wants to spread its attack around. Against Redwood Valley Friday, four girls had were in the double digits in kills. Detjen hopes they can keep that up.

Being the fourth seed isn't a disadvantage, said Detjen. "Nobody expects a lot out of us, so our girls are relaxed and confident. We're out to prove something."

The fact that other teams in MVL's conference have played well against Renville County West also gives the Chargers confidence.

Renville County West is a good team, and MVL will need its "A" game to succeed, said Detjen.

"They are a good team overall, and they are a good-serving team, one of the better we have seen. They serve deep and put you on your heels, so we've been working on our receiving," said Detjen.

"We like where we're at," said Detjen. "We hope to score some points early and develop some aggressiveness and confidence."

In the other 3AA volleyball semifinal, 6th-seeded Tracy-Milroy Balaton, which upset 3rd-seeded Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in the first round, faces second-ranked BOLD.

In the Class 3A, 4th ranked Wabasso faces top-seed Minneota at 6 p.m. at the Southwest State University RA facility, and 2nd-seeded Westbrook-Walnut Grove faces 3rd-seed Russel-Tyler-Ruthton at about 7:45 at the same location.