A game Cretin-Derham Hall team gave favored Park all it could handle Thursday before the Wolfpack won in five games at St. Paul. Park eventually prevailed 17-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-17 and 1512.

Park played its best volleyball in the final two games.

“I think we just channeled in as a team and we worked together, and all of our energy together just really put together a great outcome and we were able to put our skills onto the court,” said Park senior middle/outside hitter Kendall Lewis. “We were definitely a lot more focused, and we were able to do skills we know how to do every day.”

Park improved to 12-6 overall and now stands 3-3 in the Suburban East Conference, currently in fifth place.

“Even during warmups, I felt like something was off,” said Park head coach Amy Johnson. “We didn’t quite have the energy that we normally do because we’re a very energy-driven team. And we just didn’t have it. This space is very large and we’re not used to playing in such a spacious area and I think maybe that threw our game a little bit. It took us a while to really find our groove again.”

Last in the SEC, Cretin- Derham Hall slipped to 0-7 in the league and 4-16 overall.

The Raiders sure didn’t play like a last-place team Thursday, however. It took just about everything the Wolfpack had to beat their hosts after trailing 1-0 and 2-1 in games. But down 2-1, Park turned it on in the fourth and fifth games, playing their best volleyball of the night.

“I’m excited,” said senior defensive specialist Ella Hoge. “We were nervous at first, but we came through and pushed.”

“Ella came in and we were struggling serving and she came in as a serving specialist and kind of sparked the team to the next three sets.” said Johnson.

The Wolfpack saved the best for last, the fifth game.

“We played together,” said Johnson. “Anticipated better. We talk about on defense we need to be stopped on contact so they can move to the ball and we weren’t doing that very well early on. But once they stop on contact the ball goes in an unexpected direction now they’re in a position to play the ball. So we did a better job of that for sure.”

Host Forest Lake took a very competitive 5-game set from Park Tuesday, Oct. 4, winning 25-14, 25-16, 29–27, 25-22 and 18-16.

Park finishes the season with games at home against Irondale (4-2, 14-6) Thursday and at fifth-ranked East Ridge (6-0, 14-5) Friday. The Raptors in particular are going to be a challenge. In six conference contests this season, East Ridge has yet to lose a game (18-0). Of East Ridge’s five losses, four have been to No. 1 Champlin Park, No. 2 Lakeville North, and No. 3 Wayzata (twice).

Senior hitter Juliana Fields of Park tips a shot at the net past Cretin-Derham Hall defender Gillian Kircher. Photo by John Molene

Sophomore Sonja Lind of the Wolfpack puts the ball right between a defender’s block as she scores for Park in game four against Cretin-Derham Hall. Photo by John Molene