by Ellen Shuster

September 22 –- As the second half of the season gets underway, the Grizzlies volleyball teams went up against the Littlefork-Big Falls Vikings. The junior high games went well for the Grizzlies with the 7th grade winning 2-1 (25-8, 22-25,15-4) and the 8th grade winning 2-0 (25-14, 25-18).

Coach Hanna Sandberg was asked how she felt that her junior high girls had done in the first half of the season and replied, “I’m very proud of how far we’ve come so far.”

Quick victories for the JV and varsity followed with the JV winning 2-0 (25-14, 25-10) and varsity winning 3-0 (25-7, 25-12, 25-8).

The North Woods varsity came out with a commanding lead quickly in the first set. After going up 18-5, the whole bench had played, adding excitement for the fans and allowing the starters to get some rest.

Set two provided the only scare for the Grizzlies as they traded early points to tie at 3-3. Suddenly the Grizzlies had difficulty with their ball control and found themselves behind 3-5. A service error brought the score to 4-6. A long pass out of bounds, followed by a player in the net, saw the largest deficit at 5-8. A missed dig lost them another point and the score was 7-9. After that point, a new resolve set in and the Grizzlies took control once again. They scored 18 points to the Vikings’ 3 and won the set 25-12.

In the third set, North Woods came out in clear control. A string of aced serves and crisp plays put the game firmly out of reach for the Vikings and the Grizzlies went home still undefeated with a conference record of 8-0.