It's MAGIC! What a wild night for the Mainstreeters volleyball team, as they defeat Albany in five games

A kill shot by Macy Weller and an ace block by Krista Primus gave the top-seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters volleyball team two straight points to win a crucial game four by a 26-24 margin over the Albany Huskies tonight in the Sub-Section 6AA-West semifinals.

The 4th-seeded Huskies took a 2-0 lead in games to put the Mainstreeters on their heels. In the must-win game three, the Mainstreeters built an early lead and led 20-17 at one point before taking the game to force a fourth set.

In game four, the Huskies jumped in front 4-0 before Kendra Zenzen hammered down a kill to put Sauk Centre on the board. The game was a grinder the rest of the way, with the first of many ties coming at 8-8. A kill by Albany's Samantha Schlangen erased a 13-12 Sauk Centre lead for a 13-13 tie. Albany went up 14-13 before hitting out of bounds to make a 14-14 tie. The Huskies then hit into the net to put Sauk Centre up 15-14. A tie followed at 16-16 before Weller earned a kill for a 17-16 lead. Albany led 20-19 before Jena Klaphake and Weller both hit kills, followed by a Huskies hit out of bounds for a Sauk Centre lead at 22-20. Albany called a timeout, and after that their imposing middle hitter Lisa Keppers earned a kill to make it a one point game. Weller and Albany's Amazih Eickhoff traded kills to make it 23-22. Another kill by Weller put Sauk Centre up 24-23 with game point, but the Huskies tied it at 24-24 before Sauk Centre took an incredible 26-24 win.

In game five, the Mainstreeters jumped out to leads of 7-2, 10-5 and 13-8 on their way to an incredible 15-12 win.

After Sauk Centre led 13-8 in game five, Albany's Keppers earned a kill to make it 13-9; the Mainstreeters hit out of bounds to make it 13-10; Keppers hit a kill to make it 13-11; Sauk Centre called a timeout; Weller hit a kill to make it 14-11; Weller was blocked to make it 14-12; and finally, Weller knocked down one last kill to give her team the fifth game and the match as well.

It marks the second time in a row that Sauk Centre has overcome a 0-2 deficit in games to Albany to win a five-game thriller this season.

Albany finishes another fine season 18-9 overall.

Sauk Centre (26-4) faces the winner of the late match tonight at Sauk Rapids, either Melrose Area or Little Falls.

More to follow shortly.

~RO