CANNON FALLS – With the section tournament fast approaching, coach Jackie Schultz was grateful for the opportunity to get her NRHEG volleyball team some experience with the Cannon Falls Invitational.

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

CANNON FALLS – With the section tournament fast approaching, coach Jackie Schultz was grateful for the opportunity to get her NRHEG volleyball team some experience with the Cannon Falls Invitational.

&uot;It’s good to get a chance to go to a tournament this close to playoffs,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;It really gives you the perspective of your team’s strengths and weaknesses.&uot;

The assessment from Saturday? The Panthers are still looking for more consistency. And they’re still one of the top teams in the area.

The NRHEG girls won four of five matches, taking home second place.

&uot;It was a good day for us,&uot; said Schultz.

In the opener, the Panthers beat Plainview in game one and, despite building a 9-1 lead, dropped the second game 15-11. The Panthers then swept Visitation 15-10, 15-6 and topped Goodhue 15-12, 15-9, giving them first place in their pool.

Against the second-place team from the other pool, Cannon Falls, the Panthers prevailed 15-12, 15-4.

The Panthers lost to a tough St. Charles team in the championship match.

&uot;We did a lot of things well, but St. Charles played perfect volleyball,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;They even served perfectly, 50-for-50.&uot;

The Panthers’ leaders for the day: Erin Anderson, 70 set assists, 52-for-53 serving, 33 service points, 10 aces; Rachel Andree, 17 kills, six blocks; 21 digs; Kelli Schlaak, 10 kills, 10 tip kills, 12 blocks, 58-for-58 serving, 34 points, 39 digs; Elizabeth Schultz, 22 kills, 23 blocks, 20 digs; Ellen Johnson, 10 kills, 33 digs; Megan Routh, 14 kills; Lindsey Hendrickson, 14 digs; Lacey Peterson, 21-for-22 serving, 13 points, three aces; Kalisha Anthony, 8-for-8 serving, nine digs.