Vikings lose to Tigers in squeaker

At the end, it could not have been any closer in last night’s Section 7-A volleyball semi-finals playoff match.

The Cook County Vikings took the defending Class A state champion Cherry Tigers to five sets last night before the Tigers squeaked out a two-point victory in the final set to win the match.

The Viking-Tiger match was exciting all the way through as the teams battled back and forth with a number of long volleys in which neither team could score quickly on the other.

The now 22 and 3 Tigers won the first two sets 25 to 19 and 25 to 22. However, the Vikings came right back at them to take the next two sets by two-points each, 25 to 23 and 29 to 27. The Vikes held a 13 to 9 lead during the final set before the Tigers slipped by them to take the match.

The Vikings moved into that 13 to 9 lead after scoring five straight points. Cherry started its comeback with a kill, followed by an ace serve, followed by another kill.  With the score tied at 13-all, a tip block was called on a kill attempt that sailed long. That call put the Tigers match point. The match ended when Dee Ann Bjerklie served an ace.

The loss dropped Cook County to 21 and 3 for the season. Cherry goes into the 7-A championship game at 6 PM Saturday on a streak of 22 wins in the last 23 games. The Tigers will play 19 and 8 North Woods. The Grizzlies beat South Ridge last night 3 to 1 on scores of 25 to 20, 23 to 25, 25 to 23 and 25 to 19. The championship game will be played in Grand Rapids.

Bekah Laky led the Vikes with 23 service aces and 39 digs. Ashley Deschampe had 20 kills and 38 digs while Ali Iverson had 14 kills, eight blocks and 20 digs. CeCe Olsen had 23 digs and Anna Carman had 20 digs. Taylor Ryden had 17 service aces while Theresa Morrin had eight kills and Sarah Fagerman had four blocks.

Angel Dahl had 100 percent serving for the Tigers as well as nine blocks. Maria Clement also had 100 percent serving and 20 digs for Cherry.