ALEXANDRIA — The Alexandria Cardinals and Detroit Lakers have frequently faced off in recent years in Section 8-3A volleyball tournaments.
The two teams, who will play in Tuesday’s Section 8-3A semifinal game, have faced each other in the past three postseason games. Alexandria defeated Detroit Lakes 3-1 in the 2021 Section Semifinals, but Detroit Lakes won the next two games to take the 2022 Section 8-3A Tournament Championship 3-2 and the 2023 Section Tournament Semifinals. We won 3-1.
Alexandria got a little revenge on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Detroit Lakes on Tuesday, Oct. 29, advancing to the 2024 Section 8-3A Tournament championship match.
“I think it means a lot to get this win tonight, especially after they beat us in the section tournament the last two years,” Alexandria senior Hadley Toole said. “We came into this game with a shoulder injury.”
Alexandria dominated from the start, taking an 8-0 lead in the first set and winning the first set 25-17.
“They looked like they were on a mission,” Alexandria head coach Mary Byrne said. “They had great teamwork, good chemistry on the floor, and they had good offense the whole game.”
The Cardinals took control from there, winning the second set 25-8.
Alexandria, the No. 1 seed, controlled the third set and won 25-17, then defeated No. 4 Detroit Lakes 3-0 (14-15) in the match.
“We didn’t give them any runs on the court, that was our intention,” Byrne said. “They were strong when we played them two weeks ago, so this time we wanted to make sure to keep things going and keep the momentum going on the net side with our up-tempo offense.”
Alexandria’s Hadley Toole (center) celebrates with Sydney Craft (left) and Lily Krusemark (right) during the Section 8 3A semifinal game against the Detroit Lakes on Oct. 29, 2024 at Alexandria High School.
Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
With Tuesday’s win, Toole achieved his 1,000th career kill. The feat is just the second since junior setter Meadow Zimpel achieved her 1,000th career assist in a 3-0 win over the Detroit Lakes on Oct. 15.
“I’m very grateful to my teammates,” Toole said of reaching his 1,000th career victory. “I couldn’t have done it without them and this has been a goal of mine for a while. As a junior setter, reaching 1,000 career assists is a huge accomplishment for Meadow.”
“I think it says a lot about them as athletes, but it also says a lot about them as great teammates who deliver the ball,” Byrne said. “This is exciting. Our passer gets the ball to Meadow well and the girls get kills for her. Hadley has two great setters on the court.”
Full official statistics for this match are not yet available. Toole finished with a team-high 18 kills, followed by senior Adi Rossum with 10, according to unofficial statistics.
Alexandria is scheduled to play the ROCORI Spartans (18-12) in the Section 8 3A Championship Thursday at 7 p.m. at Sartell St. Paul. Stephen High School.
“We’re going to have to prepare for their services,” Toole said. “They have a strong outside attack, so we need to have good blocks and know where to place the ball when attacking.”
Alexandria defeated ROCORI twice in the regular season, 3-2 against Cold Spring on September 3 and 3-2 against Alexandria on October 3.
On Tuesday, second-seeded ROCORI defeated third-seeded St. Cloud Tech 3-0 (17-9).
“We have to contain their outside hitters (the University of South Dakota brings in Kate Holhouse and we have to stay focused on our own play). We have a lot of offensive weapons, so the We have to take care of the ball through contact,” Byrne said. It’s a serve that involves pace and passing. ”
1/7: Alexandria’s Julia Doherty (7) is backed up by Campbell Jenzen (8) during the 8-3A semifinal game against Detroit Lakes on Oct. 29, 2024 at Alexandria High School. Hit the ball. Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
2/7: Maddy Bjerke of the Detroit Lakes prepares to serve during the 8-3A semifinal game against Alexandria on Oct. 29, 2024 at Alexandria High School. Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
3/7: Alexandria’s Sydney Craft (1) checks in with Meadow Zimpel (11) during the Section 8 3A semifinal game against the Detroit Lakes to be held at Alexandria High School on October 29, 2024. Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
4/7: Carly Lerer (7 years old) of Detroit Lakes defeats Addie Rossum (12 years old) of Alexandria during the Section 8 3A semifinal game held at Alexandria High School on October 29, 2024. I tried to hit the ball over it. Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
5/7: Alexandria’s Eva Eisele tips the ball over the net during the Section 8 3A semifinal game against the Detroit Lakes on October 29, 2024. Sam Steve/Alexandria Echo Press
6/7: Detroit Lakes’ Mamie Hunter (10 years old) and Logan Frederickson (11 years old) compete against Alexandria’s Blocked a shot by Eva Eisele (6 years old). Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
7/7: Alexandria’s Meadow Zimpel prepares to serve during the 8-3A semifinal game against the Detroit Lakes on October 29, 2024 at Alexandria High School. Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
Detroit Lakes – 17 8 17 – 0
Alexandria – 25 25 25 – 3
Sam Steube covers a variety of sports in the Douglas County area. He is also assigned to handle some news articles.
