Fourth-seeded Jackson County Central won 3-0 over fifth-seeded Annandale in the first round of the state Class 2A volleyball tournament Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
The Huskies are now 28-6 and play in the semifinals at 9 a.m. Friday.
JCC scored the first eight points of the first set and would lead by as many as 12 points at 20-8.
The Cardinals had early leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in the second set before scoring four straight points with Georgianna Wenzel serving to take the lead. Jackson County Central scored the last seven points of the set with Sadie Voss serving.
The third set was tied 2-2 and 4-4 before the Huskies went on a pair of four-point runs behind the serving of Wenzel and Alexis O’Reilly. Annandale closed to within 22-19, but O’Reilly served for the final three points. She had one ace serve and the match ended on a kill by Voss, who led the Huskies with 14.
Voss also had 25 digs. Farmer had 33 set assists. Peyton Hanson led the team in blocks with three.
Top two seeds lose
The top two seeds in the Class 2A tourney lost in the opening round.
Mounds Park Academy defeated No. 1 seed Southwest Christian 3-2 (26-24, 20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-11) and Hawley beat No. 2 Cannon Falls 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-11).
In the other quarterfinal, No. 3 Sauk Centre defeated Greenway 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-10).
JCC will play Mounds Park Academy in the semifinals.
MPA is the Section 4AA champion with a match record of 27-4 and a set record of 74-14.
The teams have two common opponents.
Jackson County Central lost to Southwest Christian, while Mounds Park Academy split with Southwest. Both teams defeated Barnesville 2-0.
JCC-ANNANDALE STATS
SERVING: Maci Farmer 9-9, Emma Haren 15-16 (1 ace), Sadie Voss 13-14 (2 aces), Alexis O’Reilly 11-12 (1 ace), Georgianna Wenzel 14-16, Taylor Post 7-8.
BLOCKS: Peyton Hanson 3, Georgianna Wenzel 2, Emma Haren 1, Taylor Post 1.
DIGS: Sadie Voss 25, Alexis O’Reilly 15, Maci Farmer 9, Georgianna Wenzel 7, Taylor Post 6, Sydney Osterberg 4, Emma Haren 2.
SET ASSISTS: Maci Farmer 33, Alexis O’Reilly 1, Sadie Voss 1, Georgianna Wenzel 1.
KILLS: Sadie Voss 14, Peyton Hanson 7, Emma Haren 6, Georgianna Wenzel 5, Maci Farmer 3, Taylor Post 1.
STATE CLASS 2A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
At Xcel Energy Center
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Jackson County Central def. Annandale 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-19)
Mounds Park Academy def. Southwest Christian 3-2 (26-24, 20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-11)
Hawley def. Cannon Falls 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-11)
Sauk Centre def. Greenway 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-10)
Friday
Semifinals
Jackson County Central (28-6) vs. Mounds Park Academy (27-4), 9 a.m.
Hawley (28-5) vs. Sauk Centre (31-1), 11 a.m.
Consolation semifinals
Annandale (25-5) vs. Southwest Christian (29-4), 9 a.m.
Cannon Falls (27-6) vs. Greenway (27-7), 11 a.m.