Fighting Saints Push State-Ranked Minneota Before Falling in Three Sets

KERKHOVEN, Minn. - The Fighting Saints challenged state-ranked Minneota throughout a tight opening set before the Vikings pulled away for a 25-23, 25-13, 25-11 victory Thursday night. The three-set loss came on senior night, when KMS honored Addison Feldman, Kayleigh Finstrom and Leah Wagner with speeches from coaches and juniors, a slide show and gifts.

KMS opened the match focused and aggressive, matching Minneota point for point during the most competitive set of the night. The Fighting Saints played with grit, built a two-point lead as the score approached 21 and continued trading points with the Vikings down the stretch. Minneota eventually pulled even at 23-23, then claimed the final two rallies to escape with the 25-23 win.

The match shifted in the second set as KMS struggled to settle into its serve-receive rhythm. When the Fighting Saints produced playable passes, the front row had difficulty turning those opportunities into points. Minneota opened a seven-point advantage, and KMS could not put together the sustained rally needed to close the gap before the Vikings finished the set 25-13.

The third set followed a similar pattern. Minneota established an early cushion, while the Fighting Saints’ passing and attack remained out of sync. Facing another sizable deficit, KMS was unable to regain the focus and consistency it displayed in the opener, and the Vikings completed the sweep with a 25-11 win.

Coach Ruf said the opening set showed the level at which the Fighting Saints can compete when their focus, passing and front-row play come together. She was “proud of the girls on how they stayed with Minneota and didn’t just allow them to walk all over us.” Ruf added, “We are going to continue working on our grit throughout each game ahead and try to clean up our mental errors.”

Although KMS could not sustain its first-set execution, the 23-23 tie against a state-ranked opponent provided a clear example of the team’s potential. The Fighting Saints will look to carry that determination through entire matches while improving serve receive, front-row timing and the ability to respond after falling behind.