WHS volleyball team falls to Mankato West in four games to end season

Third-seeded Mankato West put an end to sixth-seeded Worthington's volleyball season Wednesday night as the Scarlets turned back the visiting Trojans 3-1 in the Section 2AAA quarterfinals. Game scores were 25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19.

In the opening game, both teams built narrow three-point leads until Mankato West tallied eight consecutive points for a 22-17 advantage. The Scarlets then won the second game after WHS was up 7-6, tallying five points in a row and forcing a Trojan timeout that ultimately didn't do much to change the momentum.

In game three, the Trojans got up by as many as five points, but the Scarlets closed the gap and tied at 23-apiece before WHS won to force a game four. Mankato West, though, built a 17-8 cushion and wound up holding off a Trojan rally that cut the deficit to four at one juncture.

Talia Nasers and Ava Schutz had 12 kills apiece for Worthington, which finished at 16-14 this fall. Kamryn Olson had 16 digs in her final volleyball match. Mara Thier was 15-for-15 serving, Kamryn Olson and Rylee Olson were both 11-for-12 and Mia McNab was 12-for-13. McNab had a team-best 18 set assists.

Alexandra Barten had 20 kills and Maleah Grunst 15 for the Scarlets, now 14-7.