ST. PAUL - Looking for its second Class AA state title in three years, the Marshall volleyball team took care of business in the state championship quarterfinals on Thursday, sweeping Esko at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Tigers won 25-13, 25-18, 25-16.
Senior middle hitter/setter Jessica Baker led the way with eight kills, three blocks and 11 set assists, pushing the Tigers to the state semifinals, where they will take on Wadena-Deer Creek, the defending state champion. W-DC survived a 2-1 deficit to defeat Visitation in five sets.
Kenzie Beekman led all hitters with 13 kills, and also had nine digs for Marshall. Morgan McKittrick had six kills and eight digs, and setter Sydney Griffin had 19 set assists.
The Eskimos were led offensively by middle hitter Stephanie Bandelin, who finished with 13 kills and seven digs. Libero Kallyn Knutson finished with 15 digs and three ace serves.
| Esko | 13 | 18 | 16 |
| Marshall | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS | |||
| Ace Serves: E-Kallyn Knutson 3; M-Morgan McKittrick 3, Sydney Griffin, Maci Louwagie. | |||
| Kills: E-Stephanie Bandelin 13, Megan Bergstedt 9; M-Kenzie Beekman 16, Griffin 8, Jessica Baker 8. | |||
| Digs: E-Knutson 15, Amanda Belden 8; M-Hannah Bennett 15, Beekman 9, McKittrick 8. | |||
| Set Assists: E-Stephanie Miller 27; M-Griffin 19, Baker 11. | |||
| Blocks: E-Belden .5, Megan Reuer .5; M-Baker 3, Beekman 2.5. |