PATRIOTS BEGIN DEFENSE OF STATE TITLE

Team loses nine seniors, but returns players with experience

BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal

PEQUOT LAKES

The Pequot Lakes Patriots volleyball team was to begin the defense of its first state Class 2A title when the season opened at home against Pierz on Tuesday,

Aug. 27. The Patriots did graduate nine seniors, but return three players with experience from a squad that finished 30-5 overall — Reese Laposky, June Ruud and Alexa Pietig, plus other letterwinners Presley Crawford, Avery Amsden, Kate Arellano, Sidney Larsen and Haley Bengston.

Last season, Pequot Lakes finished second in the Granite Ridge Conference behind Albany before winning the Section 6AA title and state title.

The Patriots downed Melrose 3-0 in the section semifinals and Albany 3-1 in the section final.

Pequot Lakes advanced to state where they edged Redwood Valley 3-2 in the quarterfinals, topped Caledonia 3-2 in the semifinal and swept Rush City 3-0 in the final.

“We look forward to a year where we put in a lot of work, gain experience and improve every time we step foot on the court,” said Patriots head coach Chris Ganley, whose team was 8-2 in the Granite Ridge Conference.

Ganley, who is starting her eighth year coaching at Pequot Lakes, previously coached volleyball at Sauk Centre and Pillager. Assistant coaches for the Patriots are Jenna Anderson, Kendra Johnson and Maddy Stall. Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.