Z-M rallies back for win over Lake City volleyball

LAKE CITY - Lake City and Zumbrota-Mazeppa each got a good early season test against each other Tuesday in Lake City.

The Cougars (5-2, 1-0 HVL) got the best of the Tigers with a 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-19 victory for their first conference win of the season.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa senior Ashley Hinsch led the team with 16 kills and added 14 assists as the Cougars overcame a first set loss.

“We had too many mental errors when we couldn’t afford them,” Lake City head coach Kim Bobb said. “They didn’t have many unforced errors. They didn’t let anything fall.”

Those errors often came at critical junctures in the match. The Tigers built a four-point lead in the second set before allowing Zumbrota-Mazeppa back in the set. The Cougars used an 8-2 run to grab a two-point lead they never relinquished.

“Blocking was huge for us,” Zumbrota-Mazeppa head coach Stacy Liebenow said.

Blocking and switching the attack helped the Cougars take control of the match. Zumbrota-Mazeppa started utilizing its outside hitters more in the final three sets and moving the ball around to avoid Lake City’s block.

Taylor Koller led Lake City (2-1, 0-1 HVL) with 10 kills, Tiffany Hoops and Haley Vaith each had seven kills. Maggie Balow finished with 30 assists. Alicia Kjos had 27 digs and Haley Vaith had six blocks.

Cougars junior Geena Miller led with 27 digs and Colleen Owen finished with 16. Megan Nelson had a team-high 21 assists.

Cougars take fourth at Century tournament

Zumbrota-Mazeppa placed fourth last Saturday at the Rochester Century tournament in Rochester.

The Cougars beat Red Wing to open the tournament, fell to Byron in three sets, beat F.A.I.R. and lost to Chatfield in the third place match.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa faces La Crescent Thursday in La Crescent. Lake City faces Hayfield Thursday in Lake City.

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