Ask any coach in just about any sport and they will tell you that all they really want is for their team to be playing at its best by the end of the year.
For Faribault volleyball it would be hard to define the season as anything but long. The Falcons have lost in just about every way imaginable, a product of youth as much as anything else. But now, Faribault is starting to win, too, turning those losses into victories, those lessons learned into habits gained.
So as the Falcons can roaring back from being down 8-3 in the fifth and final set against Owatonna to win 3-2, it was the culmination of a season growing up. One of the youngest teams in the state getting just a little bit older before your eyes.
Faribault won the opening set 25-18, falling in the second set 25-14 before clawing out a 25-22 victory in the third set. A younger team in its own right, Owatonna dug deep to win the fourth set in convincing 25-13 fashion.
And then ahead 8-3 in the fifth set, the Falcons seemed to be out of answers. Right up until they weren’t, fighting their way back one point at a time.
Josie Herda had 14 kills, Tori Manahan 11 of her own, Amira Williams pouring in seven. Stella Hera, Nyapal Reat and Kyleigh Berkan adding eight. A team effort across the board. Eight service aces, six blocks, 40 digs. Everyone doing a little bit of everything.
The Falcons will look to take their ever improving skills on the road this upcoming Tuesday to face Northfield in the regular season finale. From there it will be section playoffs and a chance to show that a team’s record doesn’t mean anything if you’re playing your best when it matters most.
Local News
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