Ely falls again to Mayer Lutheran at state tourney
Photos by Nick Wognum
Second-seeded Mayer Lutheran stormed back in the opening set and cruised from there to post a 25-23, 25-13, 25-16 victory over unseeded Ely in a State Class A volleyball quarterfinal match at the Excel Energy Center.
Ely had Mayer Lutheran on the ropes in the first set with a lead of 13-9 and later 21-17 but couldn’t hold off the Crusaders, losing 25-23.
In the second set the Timberwolves fell behind early 12-5 and failed to gain momentum with Mayer Lutheran reeling off several four point runs en route to a 25-13 win.
The final set found Ely up 11-5 and 13-8 before the wheels came off. Mayer Lutheran went on a 11-0 run and the Wolves were out of the quarterfinals on a 25-16 loss.
Hannah Penke led Ely with seven kills, Audrey Kallberg and Lilli Rechichi had six each and Clare Thomas had five. Sarah Visser had 19 set assists.
Ely, 26-5, will face Badger/Greenbush-Middle River, 24-8, who suffered a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-18) loss to Mabel-Canton, Friday at 3 p.m. in the Consolation bracket.
