Fighting Saints Rally Past Canby in Five-Set Thriller

KERKHOVEN, Minn. - KMS Schools rallied to beat Canby 3-2 on Thursday, October 1, in Kerkhoven, winning 23-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-8. The Fighting Saints twice faced a one-set deficit before making adjustments in the fourth and taking charge early in the deciding set. An enthusiastic home crowd helped create a lively atmosphere for a match that tested the Saints’ determination from start to finish.

The Saints built a six-point lead in the opening set, but miscommunication and missed serves allowed Canby back into the contest. The teams stayed close before the Lancers pulled ahead to win 25-23. The second set brought another six-point Saints advantage, followed by a Canby rally that eventually left KMS trailing by six. This time, the Saints found their rhythm, erased the deficit and pushed through a tight finish for a 27-25 victory.

KMS again led in the third set but struggled with serve receive, defense and front-row play as Canby took it 25-22. With the match on the line, the Saints made changes and began finding ways to limit the Lancers’ big hitters, directing the ball away from them and winning the fourth set 25-22. The fifth was a different story: KMS took control right away, stayed focused and played smart volleyball to close out the match 15-8.

Leah Wagner delivered an all-around performance with 14 kills, 12 digs, three service aces and 19 assists. Her court awareness helped the Saints capitalize when Canby was out of system, and she contributed across the attack, defense and service game throughout the five-set battle.

Emily Holtkamp anchored the back row with 26 digs, diving for saves and chasing down out-of-system balls to keep rallies alive. Ellie Van Heuveln also provided solid serving, passing and defense while handling serving and back-row duties for Madison Silas, whose knee had been bothering her. Those contributions helped KMS work through its uneven stretches and stay in the match.

At the net, Vanessa Olson finished with seven kills and Vanessa Olson added nine. Both put their work on expanding their offensive shots into practice, giving the Saints additional attacking options alongside Wagner. Their production helped KMS find enough offense to force the deciding set and finish strong.

The support extended beyond the players on the court. The Saints’ bench stayed involved with communication and encouragement through every swing in the match. Fans, including young volleyball players who came to cheer on the team, added to the energetic atmosphere throughout the five-set win.