Lizzy Gillingham led the Vikings with her hits at the net

Volleyball teams open with smashing win

With Brooklyn Nelson sitting on the bench nursing her injured achilles tendon, the Minneota Vikings went out and inflicted a little pain on No. 10-ranked Underwood, 3-0.

The unranked Minneota won 25-6; 25-21 and 25-15 in the Breakaway Classic at Hopkins High School.

Nelson, a junior net player, was injured in practice and is out indefinately.

Underwood's highly-ranked 5-10 senior Brenna Tinjum wasn't a factor in the opening match as Minneota's Abby Hennen served the first seven points and the Vikings went on to assault Tinjum and Underwood, 25-6.

Tinjum got Underwood's only kill in the first game. Minneota's Lizzy Gillingham manned the left side of the net and smashed six kills in game one alone. Lydia Sussner served three points to give Minneota a 21-5 lead and she added three kills to the effort. Jennifer Krog also patrolled the net and knocked down a pair of kills.

After the dust cleared on the first match, Underwood tried to put it behind them and get back in the game.

This time Tinjum swatted six kills and had Underwood in the lead at 15-15. But once the Vikings got rolling, with Emily Pohlen directing the serving, they slowly climbed into the lead for the first time at 18-17.

Sussner's net play and some nice corner hitting by Krog gave the Vikings the four-point match and a 2-0 lead.

After a 6-6 tie, the Vikings were propelled into a 14-9 lead as they took advantage of holes in the Underwood defense. Sydney Larson and Krog got big hits and it was Gillingham's corner hitting that took the Vikings come to a three-match sweep and season-opening victory.

Minneota will travel to Willmar's Ridgeway College Monday for a 7 p.m. matchup with Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa.

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