Mora sweeps Cloquet in 7AA volleyball quarterfinals

AURORA, Minn. – Back in late August, Heidi Anderson watched her Cloquet volleyball team scrimmage Mora for about 10 minutes.

Two months later, it was clear that wasn’t enough time for a scouting report. The Lumberjacks just couldn’t get a handle on the unknown Mustangs in a 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 Section 7AA quarterfinal loss last Friday night at Mesabi East High School.

Fast-playing Mora (23-6) never trailed in the opening two sets, with the heavy middle attack of Noelle Elvehjem and Alexis Good powering the Mustangs to 10 of the third set’s final 14 points en route to quick sweep and their 11th straight victory.

“They’re scrappy, they’re not going to roll over for anybody,” said Cloquet senior Emily Fossen, after she recorded a team-best eight kills in defeat. “It would have been nice to get a win, but I was really proud of how we played. They’re a good team and have gotten a lot better since we last saw them.”

Cloquet, which beat Aitkin in the first round, closed the season 16-12.

Senior outside hitter Maddie Kiehn guided the Lumberjacks with nine digs, seven kills and three blocks in the final match of her four-year career in Cloquet.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better four years,” said Kiehn.

With the seniors Kiehn and Fossen leading the Lumberjacks attack upfront, freshman setter Alex Oakes directed the offense with 15 set assists in the loss. Defensively, fellow freshmen Katie Zezulka and Sami Westendorf each posted nine digs.

“We struggled a little bit in the first couple games,” said Anderson. “I thought we came back, but it was little bit late. I was proud of the effort that we gave.”

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