Leaders for the Vikings were Anna Stephenson (11 kills, 8 digs, 2.5 blocks, 2 aces), Riley Berg (9 kills, 13 digs, 1.5 blocks, 2 aces), Greta Tollefson (7 kills, 12 set assists, 3.5 blocks), Ryley Paulson (6 kills, 15 digs), Allie Haiby (10 digs) and Sophia Paulson (7 set assists, 4 digs).

“The Vikings started set one very strong hitting the ball well to set the tone of the game,” reported Head Coach Heidi Isaman.  “Riley Berg led the offense to start and we passed the ball quite well to get us in system and give our setters the options to get all hitters in.  We also served quite aggressively in set 1 to keep their very strong middle hitters out of their offense.  Set 2 the Vikings started strong again with aggressive net play from Greta Tollefson and Anna Stephenson.  We kept ourselves in system quite well offensively to continue to keep their strong middles out of the offense.  However, we had trouble reading and defending their off pace ball and they found the open spots on our court to go on a run and get a close win.  In set 3 the Braves picked up their serve receive and they got their middle in the offense.  We really struggled closing the block on their strong middle hitter and she was able to swing right through too many times.  Allie Haiby did a good job digging up what she could but we spend most of the set playing defense versus the offense we were controlling in the first 2 sets.  We started apprehensively in the fourth set and took away the aggressive serving and hitting that helped us take control of the game in set 1 and 2.  Our blockers really stepped up and got some huge blocks and touches to slow down their middle hitters a bit and Ryley Paulson made some big defensive plays, however, too many unforced errors by the Vikings led the Braves to victory.  Overall, this was a good tight back and forth battle all night with lots of big plays on both ends.” 

The Vikings will travel to Perham for a Heart O’ Lakes Conference battle on Thursday.

Menahga did not report any game information.