The top-seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights advanced to the South Sub-Section 3A finals Tuesday night by defeating No. 4 Adrian-Ellsworth 3-0 in a semifinal match in the Worthington High School gym. Game scores were 25-16, 25-23, 25-15.
R-T-R, which now has a record of 23-8 this season, will face second-seeded Westbrook-Walnut Grove at 7 p.m. Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. The Dragons' season ends with a 12-10 record.
In game one, R-T-R clung to a 15-14 edge before capturing 10 of the final 12 points. Paisley Thooft, who finished the match with a total of 13 kills, closed out game one with kill number six.
Adrian-Ellsworth bounced back strong and led by as many seven points in the second set, but the Knights were undeterred and went on to grab a 24-20 lead. A-E, didn't surrender easily, getting to within one before R-T-R finished things with a Sara Thooft kill.
Game three would turn out to be mostly one-sided, as R-T-R built a lead of 14 points at 24-10 before the Dragons made the final a little bit closer.
For Adrian-Ellsworth, it was junior Brylee Zebee leading the way with eight kills, 31 digs and 10-for-10 serving with four aces. Sophie Wieneke was 11-for-11 serving with five aces and also contributed 17 digs. Mersaydes Marten passed for 11 set assists.
In the other semifinal, Westbrook-Walnut Grove topped No. 3 Southwest Minnesota Christian 3-1. Game scores were 25-20, 25-14, 17-25, 25-19. The Chargers' record improved to 21-4. The Eagles end the season at 13-12.
In other volleyball action Tuesday night, top-seeded Redwood Valley ousted No. 5 Luverne in South Sub-Section 3AA play by winning 3-1 by game scores of 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17. Redwood Valley will next meet second-seeded Jackson County Central -- which topped No. 3 Windom by game scores of 25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24 -- on Thursday in the sub-section finals.
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