The Pequot Lakes Patriots volleyball team opened its season with a 3-0 loss to the Brainerd Warriors on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Pequot Lakes Athletic Complex.
"With a new lineup for the most part, it will take a while for us to put it together," said Pequot Lakes coach Kate Dale, whose team lost 25-19, 25-16, 25-23, "but we will get there."
The Warriors started a primary senior lineup while the Patriots started a younger lineup of sophomores Sam Littman and Corina Ruud and juniors Amanda Nies, Brittny Bzdok, Laura Squires and Morgan Lohmiller.
The Patriots jumped to a 7-3 lead on an ace serve by Caitlyn Carkhuff and a kill by Littman. Pequot Lakes stretched its lead to 12-7 after an ace serve by Squires. The Warriors came roaring back to tie it 13-13, and the match stayed close until Brainerd finished the game on a 6-1 run to win 25-19.
"We got off to a pretty good start in the first game, but then we started to make mistakes and didn't pass the ball well the rest of the night," Dale said.
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The second game was close early, and neither team led by more than two points, and was tied several times before the Warriors pulled away for an 20-16 lead. Hannah Chisholm then served five straight points for Brainerd's win.
The third game was also close as the Warriors led 13-12 midway through. Mercedes Stavig then served six straight points for a 19-12 lead. Pequot Lakes rallied to cut the deficit to 24-23 before the the match ended on a missed serve.
Jenna Degen notched 19 set assists and Tedi Ramberg tallied 10 kills for the Warriors. Bzdok had 10 kills and five digs while Josie Florell tipped 18 set assists and Amanda Nies added 18 digs for the Patriots.
Pequot Lakes was scheduled to host Pillager on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and then join the Pine River-Backus Tigers in hosting the Pine & Lakes tournament starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.
The Patriots' junior varsity was split into two teams, and both earned victories over the Warriors.
Pequot Lakes statistics:
Brittny Bzdok 10 kills, 5 digs, 2 ace serves, 2 blocks; Amanda Nies 18 digs; Morgan Lohmiller 2 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace serve, 17 set assists, 1 block; Corina Ruud 2 blocks; Samantha Littman 2 kills, 1 ace serve, 2 blocks; Kelsey Hart 1 dig, 2 ace serves; Laura Squires 5 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace serve, 1 block; Barbara Miller 2 blocks; Josie Florell 10 digs, 2 ace serves, 18 set assists; Emilee Buell 1 block; Caitlyn Carkhuff 1 ace serve
