Volleyball: Cannon Falls finishes 2nd at weekend tourney

Playing in the 16-team Exchange Club tournament in Rochester over the weekend, the Cannon Falls volleyball team finished second with a 3-1 showing to end the regular season.

On Friday, the Bombers opened the tournament with a 25-18, 25-22 victory over Kingsland, which Cannon Falls head coach Melissa Huseth admitted wasn’t her team’s strongest showing. The Bombers recovered in their second match with a 25-19, 16-25, 15-6 win over Rochester Mayo.

“That game was intense,” Huseth said. “The girls picked up everything and played solid, consistent defense.”

On Saturday morning, Cannon Falls advanced to the finals with a 26-24, 25-19 victory against Glencoe-Silver Lake, which had received votes in the latest Class 2A volleyball polls. In the championship match, the Bombers took their first loss of the weekend as John Marshall clinched the title 25-11, 25-21.

MaKenzie Franklin led Cannon Falls with 30 total kills and eight ace blocks, while Hailey Huseth added 20 kills and 20 set assists. Lydia Franken controlled the offense with 45 set assists, and Becca Vandenheuvel patrolled the back row, finishing with 49 digs.

Ending the regular season at 22-5, the Bombers, who received votes in the Class 2A poll, open the Section 1AA playoffs Thursday as the No. 3 seed, and will play host to No. 6 Triton.

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