Volleyball: Woodbury earns redemption in 3-2 win over rival East Ridge

Woodbury earned some redemption against rival East Ridge last week.

The Royals and Raptors met in a rematch of last season’s Section 4AAA semifinal – and this time it was Woodbury which came away with the win.

Last year, East Ridge ended Woodbury’s season with a 3-1 defeat in the section semis en route to a state tournament berth and a Class AAA State consolation championship title.

However, this year, Woodbury defeated the Raptors 3-2 on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Woodbury High School in a five-set grudge match to improve to 3-1 over East Ridge since the school was built in south Woodbury.

Woodbury took a 2-0 lead in the match, winning 25-17 and 25-23 in the first two sets. But, East Ridge came back to win 25-19 in the third set and 25-22 in the fourth set. However, the Royals won the fifth and deciding set 15-10 over the Raptors.

Woodbury’s Sara Biermeier led the offensive attack on the Raptors with a team-high 27 kills. Olivia Wangensteen had a team-leading nine digs and three service aces to go along with 18 kills, as well, and Aby Andualem had a team-best 51 set assists. Also, Chloe Richter had three blocks and Alex Benedict had two blocks.

After the win, Woodbury traveled to Forest Lake and beat the Rangers 3-2 (25-19,19-25,19-25, 25-18, 15-10) on Thursday, Oct. 13.

The Royals fell behind 2-1 in the match, but came back with wins in the fourth and fifth sets to steal the victory.

Biermeier again led the way with 15 kills, five aces and three blocks. Wangensteen tallied 12 kills and, along with Johnson, led the team in digs with nine. Also, Richter added three blocks and three aces for the Royals.

“Their focus and confident player were key factors in both victories,” Woodbury assistant coach Johnna Wangensteen said.

The Royals ended conference play with a record of 6-3 and improved to 16-10 overall on the season.

In other matches, East Ridge fell 3-2 to Stillwater at East Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 13 and went 1-4 at the Eastview Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15, at Eastview. At the tourney, East Ridge beat St. Michael-Albertville 2-1, before falling 2-0 to eighth-ranked Eden Prairie, 2-0 to Hopkins and 2-0 to Eastview. Woodbury went 2-2 at the tournament, beating Forest Lake 2-1 and Chaska 2-1 and falling to No. 1-ranked Blaine 2-0 and No. 3-ranked Class AA school Stewartville.

The Raptors and Royals each ended the regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 18, after the Bulletin went to press. East Ridge was at Edina. Woodbury played host to Rosemount.

Next, this year’s Section 4AAA tournament starts Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Tags: sports, volleyball, woodbury, royals