Johnson talks team improvement

That was the best we’ve blocked in a long time. Our block has been a little off the last few matches and tonight our block was on.”

Park head coach Amy Johnson

Lead in fourth game is key to the win

It was important because we had to remember to stay above and we don’t want to let down because we really wanted to beat that team.”

Hannah Maxwell, junior setter

Slusser talks decisive fourth game

We didn’t rush to keep that lead because since having it from the beginning I just felt kept us up there and we didn’t have to feel like we needed to catch up.”

Carly Slusser, junior hitter

Park is ranked 83rd among Minnesota volleyball teams in the latest MaxPreps rankings.

Park scored a big-time win over a talented Roseville team Thursday to highlight a busy week.

The Wolfpack (3-1 in the SEC, 13-4 overall) lost at Mounds View (2-2, 7-6) Tuesday, Sept. 26, then returned home for a clutch victory over a good Roseville team (2-2, 11-6). On Saturday the Wolfpack went 2-1 in their own tournament and on Monday Park claimed a road win at Two Rivers.

Park and Roseville came into Thursday’s game with identical 2-1 records in the Suburban East Conference. It was a tense, tight, four-game decision, won by the Wolfpack 27-25, 25-20, 18-25 and 25-20.

Except for a third-game slump, the Wolfpack won the key points when they needed them. Park took a 24-all tie in the opener to a 27-25 win. In the fourth, Park jumped out to leads of 9-0 and 13-3 only to see Roseville battle back to 21-16 and then 24-20. But again the Wolfpack closed out the visitors to earn the victory.

Park head coach Amy Johnson said the team play was much improved from the Mounds View game in several areas.

“We were much better on our serve receive," said Johnson. “Or defense was much better. We’ve been having problems staying low and moving forward and getting caught with balls right in front of us. And we blocked. That was the best we’ve blocked in a long time. Our block has been a little off the last few matches and tonight our block was on.”

Getting a big lead in the decisive fourth game was a key to the win, said junior setter Hannah Maxwell and junior hitter Carly Slusser.

“It was important because we had to remember to stay above and we don’t want to let down because we really wanted to beat that team,” said Maxwell.

“Having that lead in the fourth set really helped us and then we could kind of just take it slower,” said Slusser. “We didn’t rush to keep that lead because since having it from the beginning I just felt kept us up there and we didn’t have to feel like we needed to catch up.”

Slusser led Park’s hitters with 19 kills and 11 digs. Sonja Lind had 7 kills and 9 digs and Mesa Jameson 6 kills and 4 blocks. Maxwell recorded 31 assists and had six digs. Junior Jenna Katlack led Park with 17 digs. Ameenah Alowonle had three blocks.

“I think we did well on our blocking,” said Maxwell. “We had a lot of big blocks tonight, especially against one of their outside hitters. That was really good.”

Beating Roseville Thursday also give the Wolfpack a measure of revenge for last season when Roseville won in three.

“It’s a really good feeling knowing we beat them in four this year,” said Slusser.

Not getting down was another key to the win, especially after a less-than-perfect third set.

“I just love how our girls stay calm through all of it,” said Johnson. “Even in that third set when things weren’t going right for us, you never saw our girls look panicked. You never saw them separating each other like Carly said. We stayed together as a team even when we weren’t ahead and that’s so key in this game.”

On Monday, Park won in three in a non-conference match at Two Rivers, 25-20. 28-26 and 25-16.

Park went 2-1 in its own tournament Saturday, topping Robbinsdale Cooper 2-0, and the Math and Science Academy 2-0, then losing 2-0 to a strong Anoka team.

The Wolfpack easily blew by Robbinsdale Cooper (3-13), winning 25-10 and 25-6. The results were similar against the Math and Science Academy (10-8) with the Wolfpack winning 25-10 and 25-8. Things got much tougher against Anoka (16-1), with the turfs winning 25-21 and 25-16.

Park dropped a 3-0 decision at Mounds View Tuesday, Sept. 26, losing 25-15, 25-22 and 25-18.  The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the Wolfpack.

Park returns to Suburban East Conference play Thursday, hosting Cretin-Derham Hall (3-14) in a match starting at 7 p.m.

RANKINGS: Park is ranked 83^rd among Minnesota volleyball teams in the latest MaxPreps rankings. East Ridge (14^th) is the only conference team ranked in the top 25. Roseville, which Park defeated in four games last week, is ranked 51^st.