We are part of The Trust Project.
LITTLE FALLS-Alyssa Semmler and Gabby Rainwater combined for 29 kills as the North B No. 1 Pine River-Backus Tigers defeated North A No. 1 Rush City 3-1 in the North Subsection 5-1A championship match Thursday, Nov. 1.
Semmler drilled 15 kills and Rainwater 14 as PRB improved to 28-2. Rylie Hirschey posted 49 set assists and Jaime Johnson 24 digs for PRB.
Ranked fifth in the final Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class 1A poll, PRB plays South A No. 1 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa for the section championship 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Little Falls. Earlier Thursday, BBE defeated South B No. 1 Royalton 3-1 for the South Subsection title.
BBE, ranked 10th in the final 1A poll, lost to PRB 3-2 for the 2017 section title.
In Game One Thursday, PRB won 25-13 as Rainwater provided five kills, Semmler three kills and three aces. Rush City rebounded to take Game Two 25-13.
ADVERTISEMENT
Semmler's five kills sparked the Tigers to a 25-19 win in Game Three. After the teams were tied 11-11, PRB went on a 7-1 run. Rush City closed to within 20-18 but could never tie or take the lead.
In Game Four, PRB went on a 6-0 run after trailing 1-0 and never trailed. Rush City tied it five times but PRB's 4-1 run won it 25-22.
Rush City 13 25 19 22
PR-Backus 25 13 25 25
Pine River-Backus statistics
Gabby Rainwater 14 kills, 2 blocks, 9 digs
Bailey Wynn 9 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace serve, 1 set assist, 1 block
Anna Felthous 4 digs, 1 kill, 2 set assists, 1 block
Jaime Johnson 24 digs, 4 kills
ADVERTISEMENT
Olivia Adkins 4 kills, 1 dig
Claire Dahl 1 dig
Alyssa Semmler 15 kills, 3 blocks, 6 digs, 1 ace serve
Rylie Hirschey 49 set assists, 5 digs, 1 ace serve
Emma Barchus 21 digs, 4 ace serves
Overall: PRB 28-2. Next: Pine River-Backus vs. South A No. 1 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa for Section 5-1A championship at Little Falls 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.
