Believe it! Streeters are section champs!

Macy Weller celebrates after scoring the final point of the 

match with a kill, giving the Streeters 

a 3-0 win and a trip to the state tournament!

St. Joseph - The Sauk Centre volleyball team pulled off the biggest win of their season Saturday afternoon, beating ROCORI in three games to win the Section 6AA title and advance to this week's state tournament.

Sauk came out strong and never let up, controlling the game at the net and in the backcourt as they won a hard-fought three games to win their first section title in nine years.

Fans erupted when Macy Weller's kill put the final nail in the coffin, giving the Streeters a 25-20 win in game three after they came form behind to win game two 27-25.

The girls celebrated at half court, many of them crying tears of happiness as they embraced eachother to celebrate their sweet victory.

"This feels amazing," said senior captain Emily Petermeier. "We came to play our game today and not theirs."

Fellow senior Shelby Deters held the section championship plaque tight to her chest.
"I don't want to let it go," she said. "I think I'm going to keep it awhile."

Deters and Petermeier were two main cogs in the Streeter defensive attack at the net along with fellow players Kali Peschel, Kendra Zenzen and Krista Primus. Primus, Deters and Peschel came up with key blocks throughout the match while the likes of Zenzen, Ashley Kollman, Lexie Berscheit and Jena Klaphake kept balls alive in the back row.

"Our defense was the difference." said Peschel, who along with Weller had several key kills in the match.

Said Primus: "Our defense was phenomenal."

Berscheit, who shares setting duties with Klaphake, said the team set out to reach the state tournament.
"This was our goal," she said. "And we got it!"

A fan bus sponsored by First State Bank will bring fans to the XCEL Energy Center for Thursday's quarterfinal contest. The Streeters do not know who they will play, but will play at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m.

The volleyball team is the third Sauk Centre team to reach state in the last year. The basketball team reached it last winter and the cross country teams reached state this weekend.

"We have worked so hard for this and we have played so hard every match," said Peschel. "We deserve this."

Stay tuned to the Streeter Sports Blog for more details on the state tourney. Check out Tuesday's Herald for game stories and player and coaches reaction.

The bench erupts after the final point, 

clinching the section title!

Weller attempts a kill form the 

10-foot line in Saturday's 3-0 victory.

The Streeters' effort at the net was the difference. 

Above, Kali Peschel (6) and Kendra Zenzen (11) 

go up for a block.

The Streeters made quite an impression 

Saturday at St. Benedict College.

SECTION 6AA CHAMPS!

Streeters volleyball is state-bound for the first time since 2001!

In a truly spectacular performance this afternoon at St.Ben's College, the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters beat Rocori 3-0 to advance to their first state tournament since 2001.

More to follow later.

Streeters top Albany, move on to section finals

The Mainstreeter volleyball squad beat Albany Thursday, moving one step closer to the coveted state tournament.
Sauk won 3-1, winning games one, three and four, claiming the 6AA sub-section title. The victory advances them to Saturday's section final against ROCORI, who defeated St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1. Kali Peschel had 13 kills and Macy Weller had 11 kills and 10 ace blocks to lead the Streeters, who controlled the game at the net despite Albany having several quality hitters with size.
After losing game two, Sauk had three consecutive blocks to start game three. Head coach Jim Klaphake said that set the tone.
"Macy and Kali were huge for us in the middle," he said. "We knew they had some great hitters and that we needed to slow them down."
Defensively Kendra Zenzen had 14 digs and Krista Primus nine. Jena Klaphake and Lexie Berscheit combined for 37 assists and 16 digs. Peschel added 7 ace blocks and senior Shelby Deters chipped in 8.
The Streeters seem to be playing their best volleyball at the right time. They have not made it to a state tournament under Klaphake's tutelage, although his team's have come close. Last year they lost in the section finals to New London-Spicer.
After Thursday's game he was asked about his team's chances against either cathedral or Rocori.
"It won't be easy, but I believe we can beat either one of them," he said.
They had beaten Cathedral already, but it will be ROCORI they will have to beat Saturday when they face them at 2 p.m. at St. Ben's.
Klaphake said last year's experience of being in a section championship game should help this year's squad. He also said he sees a different look in the eyes of his players.
"I don't see fear," he said. "I see determination."

Streeter netters win in 3

Two down, two to go.
The Mainstreeters won their second consecutive playoff game Monday night with a 3-0 win over Little Falls. The No. 1 seeded Mainstreeters beat the No. 5 seeded Flyers 25-11, 25-13, 25-15. Kali Peschel had 12 kills to lead the squad and also chipped in 4 blocks and seven digs. Krista Primus added 10 kills 4 blocks and 5 digs and Kendra Zenzen had 8 kills 2 blocks and 14 digs. Jena Klaphake had 20 set assists and Lexie Berscheit had 10 assists. Between the two setters they were 35-for-35 serving with five aces. Macy Weller led the team with five blocks.

The win will pit the Streeters against either Albany or Long Prairie Thursday at 6 p.m. That match is currently in progress. Check back to see who the Streeters will play in the sub-section finals. If they win Thursday they will play in the section finals Saturday at St. Ben's.