Alexandria sets tone early, outlasts Moorhead for Section 8-4A volleyball title

Blake Durham / Alexandria Echo Press By Blake Durham Today at 8:50 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Top-seeded Alexandria used a dominating finish in the opening set to set the tone before closing out No. 2 Moorhead in four sets to win the Minnesota Section 8-4A volleyball championship Saturday at the Alexandria Area High School Gymnasium. The Cardinals secured their 12th state-tournament appearance in program history and second trip in three years. Set scores were 25-14, 23-25, 25-23 and 25-21. ADVERTISEMENT Alexandria began the match scoring the first four points, which included the first of four service aces for Hadley Marti. Jalynn Janich gave the Spuds their first point and both teams eventually batted to even the score 11-11, before the Cardinals scored 14 of the next 17 points to close out a first-set win. In the second set, Moorhead raced out to an early lead on a 9-3 scoring run, as presence at the net became a major focal point for both teams. Following a timeout, the Cardinals slowly chipped away at the deficit and grabbed the lead. However, a block by both Janich and Hazel Schmidt put the Spuds back ahead as part of a three-point run, one of three lead changes in the late stages of the second set. Moorhead evened the match at one set apiece. Alexandria won the third set and forged ahead in the middle stage of the fourth to take a 17-11 lead on another Marti ace. Blocks by Moorhead's Ellyssa Holmberg and Estelle Lindquist helped their team score four straight points to pull within two points of the Cardinals. Moorhead came close to forcing a fifth set, but Alexandria pulled ahead and won the match on Schlichting’s kill to send the Cardinals to the state tournament. For Moorhead, Dori Granlund had a team-best 10 kills with two aces. Janich added seven kills and an ace while Schmidt tallied four kills. The Spuds end their season with a 16-13 record. Alexandria (20-6), winners of six straight matches and 11 of its last 12, advanced to the Class 4A state tournament. The quarterfinal round for Class 4A begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. ADVERTISEMENT Blake Durham / Alexandria Echo Press Blake Durham / Alexandria Echo Press Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags ECHO PRESS DOUGLAS COUNTY LOCAL SPORTS MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE PREP SPORTS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALEXANDRIA CARDINALS By Blake Durham Blake Durham is the Sports and Outdoors Editor at the Echo Press. He joined the newspaper in September 2025 and covers various sports in Alexandria and throughout Douglas County. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2022. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Prep Wu, Bruns capture multiple events while Sheyenne girls win EDC swim meet 1h ago · By Forum staff Prep Minnesota state football brackets released, here’s who, where and when area teams will play 4h ago · By Staff reports Prep Live at 1 p.m.: Linton H-M-B vs. LaMoure-Litchville-Marion in Division 9-Man football playoffs 9h ago · By WDAY News ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Moorhead How will vacant Moorhead City Council, Moorhead School Board seats be filled? 15h ago · By Ingrid Harbo Business Mark Ostlund, leader who helped grow Sandy's Donuts into a regional favorite, dies 1d ago · By Tracy Briggs Business Sisters developing Kindro app to help users find their chosen family 14h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson Lifestyle What if this winter’s forecast holds true? 14h ago · By Don Kinzler