Byron, the top seed, defeated Kasson-Mantorville in four sets during the Section 1, Class 3A volleyball semifinals.
The match took place in Byron, where libero Addison Johnson showcased her determination and skill. The Bears won the match with set scores of 26-24, 25-9, 20-25, and 25-18.
Johnson led her team with 25 digs, delivering several impressive plays in the first set. She made three spectacular digs, diving to save the ball and sending it over the net. Her most memorable moment came when she chased a ball to the back line, turned with her back to the net, and nudged it over for the set-winning point.
Byron coach Shane Plummer praised Johnson’s performance. He noted that her consistent hard work is evident in her gameplay. “What she did tonight is not unusual for her. She always positions herself well to make great plays,” Plummer said. Byron improved to 24-7 with the victory, while K-M ended the season at 13-17.
Johnson, however, viewed her efforts as standard for her role. “That’s just part of being a libero,” she said. She expressed pride in her team’s collective effort and teamwork. Byron will next face No. 2 seed Stewartville in the section title match on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mayo Civic Arena.
This match marked the third meeting between the two teams, with Byron winning each time. In addition to Johnson’s digs, Byron dominated at the net, recording 53 kills. Ella Nelson led with 20 kills, followed by Kaydence Fjerstad with 13, Ella Brennan with 10, and Zoe Dearborn with eight. Nelson, a junior, expressed her focus on being aggressive for her team. “I aim to do my best on every point,” she said.
Byron executed Plummer’s game plan, maintaining an aggressive approach. Their only notable weakness was a number of missed serves, but they compensated with strong performance in other areas, including setter Paige Cronk, who recorded 44 assists.
K-M, led by first-year head coach Allison Persick, was spearheaded by Abby Baker, who had nine kills. Persick reflected on the season, noting the team’s growth and development. “They learned to trust each other and play as a unit,” she said. “It was a valuable learning year.”
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