FARGO -- It was 2010 the last time the Linton/HMB volleyball team made it to the Class B state tournament title game, and if all goes according to the plan the Lions' could be hoisting the state championship trophy on Saturday.
The Lions cruised to their eighth consecutive sweep Friday night at the Fargodome, downing Northern Cass 3-0 in the state semifinals. Linton/HMB will face defending state champion Langdon/Edmore/Munich in the state title match at 7 p.m.
The two teams met in the 2010 state tournament title game -- a match the Cardinals won 3-0. Northern Cass will play Thompson for third place Saturday at 4 p.m.
"Oh my gosh I am so excited," Linton/HMB head coach Jaime Richter said. "The girls played so hard out there and they did what they do.
"They like to take teams mentally out of their game by serving well and serve-receiving. They took them out of their system and played the volleyball that they can play."
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Richter said the Lions worked hard to win the game's long rallies against a team she and her team had no familiarity with.
"I didn't even see them play volleyball," Richter said of Northern Cass. "That was kind of a scary thing because I didn't know what to expect. I saw a little bit of video ... but I felt like the girls stuck to the game plan and that's what they do."
The Lions' approach to the game was to carefully read which hitter was going to attack and where they looked to place the ball. Callie Hase, Richter's junior libero, was a big part of reading the Jaguars' offense.
"Callie Hase had an awesome game," Richter said. "She was digging everything back; she was all over the place tonight. She never gets enough credit and I was really proud of her."
Hase contributed 32 digs to the team's collective 117. The libero also tallied an ace.
Even with the No. 1 seed in hand and the Lions' undefeated record, Richter said she is expecting a huge test from Langdon/EM.
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"We are No. 1 right now, but it feels like we are the underdog because Langdon went last year and they have their big girls," Richter said.
Linton/HMB 3, Northern Cass 0
NC 22 17 21
L/HMB 25 25 25
NC -- Kills: Morgan Nelson 9, Emma Lucas 7, Halle Crockett 7, Jenna Maker 4, Karissa Hammer 2, Sarah Yoney 1. Assists: Yoney 22, Digs: Abby Rasmussen 32, Abby Richman 20, Yoney 15, Crockett 13, Lucas 13, Nelson 7, Hammer 1. Blocks: Nelson 3, Yoney 2, Maker 2, Lucas 1.
L/HMB -- Kills: Teegan Scherr 12, JayCee Richter 10, ShayLee Bosch 7, Kim Gefroh 6, Emily Kelsch 6, Gracie Schumacher 2. Assists: Schumacher 35. Digs: Hase 32, Richter 26, Schumacher 17, Scherr 17, Kelsch 16, Gefroh 7, Bosch 2. Aces: Richter 2, Gefroh 2, Hase 1. Blocks: Richter 2, Bosch 2, Gefroh 1, Kelsch 1.
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HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT
AT FARGODOME
NOV. 19
G1: Bismarck Century 3, Valley City 0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-18)
G2: Fargo Davies 3, Mandan 2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-11, 20-25, 16-14)
G3: West Fargo 3, Bismarck Legacy 1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 26-24)
G4: Jamestown 3, W.F. Sheyenne 2 (25-16, 14-25, 25-14, 19-25, 15-8)
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NOV. 20
G5: Mandan 3, Valley City 1 (25-19, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21)
G6: Legacy 3, West Fargo Sheyenne 0 (25-22 26-24 25-22)
G7: Century 3, Fargo Davies 0 (27-25, 25-22. 25-23)
G8: West Fargo 3, Jamestown 0 (26-24, 25-6, 25-19)
NOV. 21
Seventh place: Valley City vs. West Fargo Sheyenne, 10 a.m.
Fifth place: Mandan vs. Legacy, 1 p.m.
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Third place: Fargo Davies vs. Jamestown, 4 p.m.
Championship: Century vs. West Fargo, 7 p.m.
CLASS B STATE TOURNAMENT
AT FARGODOME
NOV. 19
G1: Thompson 3, Flasher 0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-20)
G2: Langdon/EM 3, Kenmare 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-22)
G3: Linton/HMB 3, Our Redeemer's 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-12)
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G4: Northern Cass 3, Dickinson Trinity 0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-15)
NOV. 20
G5: Flasher 3, Kenmare 2 (25-22, 16-25, 25-20, 26-28, 15-11)
G6: Dickinson Trinity 3, Our Redeemers 0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-8)
G7: Langdon/EM 3, Thompson 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-15)
G8: Linton/HMB 3, Northern Cass 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-21)
NOV. 21
Seventh place: Kenmare vs. Our Redeemers, 10 a.m.
Fifth place: Flasher vs. Dickinson Trinity, 1 p.m.
Third place: Thompson vs. Northern Cass, 4 p.m.
Championship: Langdon/EM vs. Linton/HMB, 7 p.m.
