Too much Lanoue for Vikings

You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run .... "

Those famous lyrics by singer Kenny Rogers reverberated through the Minneota gym Thursday night as the Tracy-Milroy Panthers "ran" to a 3-1 win over the Vikings.

They took a 13-25; 25-21; 23-18 and 25-21 win from The Vikings.

The first game was an absolute disaster for the Vikings and they 'folded 'em' with a 25-13 loss.

"We cme out flat and Tracy came out firing," said Coach Hayley Fruin.

Sydney Lanoue, who would get 28 kills, was having her own way with the Vikings.

Lanoue also served eight straight points and not much latter Sidney Karbo served four more and TMB had a 16-4 lead. They went on to the easy win.

"Morgan (setter Kockelman) was running all over the place," trying to track down errant passes.

So the coach decided to move in another direction and inserted Lydia Sussner into the roster not just to hit, but to serve. It helped and Sussner and Lizzy Gillingham came out firing in game two.

Sussner had six of her team-leading 18 kills in the second game alone.

"Lydia was really hitting the ball," said Coach Fruin. Gillingham served four straight points to give the Vikings a 12-5 lead. And Kockelman, who had been "running" around, got to settled down as Abby Hennen (with 24 digs) and Gillingham began to get the ball to their setter.

In the third game Minneota took a 7-4 lead but TMB's Evie Dolan took over at the net and pushed the Panthers into a 9-8 lead.

It was tied at 16, but Dolan and Samantha Edwards began smashing the ball and TMB won, 25-21 and took a 2-1 lead.

A scrappy Kaylee Kirk in the back court had 29 digs for the Panthers and Coach Fruin said, "She was scrappy back there."

The Vikings took the lead in game four at 7-4, but Lanoue and her troubles would none of that. They took the lead at 17-16 and pushed the Panthers to a victory.

"At least we know we can hang with them. But we've got to get the ball to Sussner (more)," the coach said.

Lanoue, who had 28 kills, played the entire game, "And that was to their benefit," said Coach Fruin. "She's a smart player," the coach added.

And she predicted, "We'll bounce back."

TMB                     25   21   25   25

Minneota            13    25   18   21

Individual Statistics 

SERVING: (No., good, aces) Minneota-Abby Hennen 11-11-0; Lizzy Gillingham 14-12-2; TMB-(aces only) Cassidy Smith, Sidney Karbo 2 each. 

KILLS: Minneota-Lydia Sussner 18, Gillingham, Natalee Rolbiecki 2 each; TMB Lanoue 28; Dolan 16; Karbo 8; Samantha Edwards 7. 

DIGS: Minneota-Abby Hennen 24; Morgan Hennen 12; Morgan Kockelman 9; TMB Kaylee Kirk 29; Lanoue 19; Smith 17. 

SET ASSISTS: Minneota-Kockelman 38; TMB Smith 45. 

BLOCKS: Minneota-Sussner, Gillingham 21 each; Rolbiecki, Larson 1 each; TMB Dolan 7.