Volleyball: East Ridge tops New Life in season opener

The East Ridge and New Life Academy volleyball teams opened the 2011 season with a non-conference intra-district matchup on Monday, Aug. 22, at East Ridge High School.

East Ridge, which finished in fifth place in the Class AAA state tournament last year, won “The Battle of Bailey Road” 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-15) over the Eagles.

Minus eight graduates from last year’s team, including standouts Felicia Ulrich, Dale Hoeffel and Kristen Jorgensen, East Ridge (1-0) got contributions from a number of players in the win.

East Ridge senior middle hitter Maggie Remke had six kills, two blocks, one dig, and was 15-for-17 serving with four aces to lead the way and junior outside hitter Margaret Eggert had a team-high eight kills and was 9-for-9 serving with one ace in the win. Also, junior setter Tess Kelzenberg had 19 set assists, was 18-for-18 on serves with four aces and added two blocks at the net and Makayla Sauro, sophomore outside hitter, had five kills, four digs, one set assist and was 8-for-8 on serves. Additionally, senior defensive stopper Cayla Kissner had five digs, four kills and four ace serves, sophomore Jamie Swanson had two ace serves, one block and three kills and outside hitter Brandi Knupp had four digs.

Stats for New Life Academy (0-1) were not made available.

East Ridge took on Champlin Park on Monday, Aug. 29, and New Life traveled to St. Croix Lutheran on Tuesday, Aug. 30, after the Bulletin went to press. Next, the Raptors play host to non-conference foe St. Michael-Albertville on Thursday, Sept. 1, at “The Perch” while New Life Academy welcomes Randolph to Woodbury.

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