GFW thunders past BLH
By Michael Gassett, Journal Sports WriterArticle Photos
WINTHROP - For the last few years, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop has been the underdog in the Section 2A playoffs. The Thunderbirds have flourished in that role as they made it to state in 2007 and last year they advanced to the subsection championship.
This year is a little different. Instead of being the underdog, GFW is the No. 1 seed and the team to beat. But so far the results are the same as the Thunderbirds made it back to the North Subsection championship with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 sweep of Buffalo Lake-Hector Monday in Winthrop.
"There is pressure there and they know that," GFW coach Chris Wortz said. "We are the one on top they are trying to knock off. We have to come out and play our best game every night."
The night was also big for Lexi Platz, who with 21 kills tied the school record for kills in a season with 402. Rebecca Kaukola set the school record in 1999.
Stephanie Howe, who had 33 set assists on the night, has contributed to nearly every one of those kills this season.
"It's great," Howe said. "I can give her anything and she can put it down. It's awesome."
GFW struggled in the first set and BLH went ahead 14-12 on a Lilli Cole kill. The Mustangs never led again. A Mackenzie Trettin kill tied it at 14 and Cheyenne Briese served for 10 points and the Thunderbirds won the match 25-15.
That was just the start of the strong serving for the Thunderbirds. Briese was a perfect 15-for-15 on the night with four aces.
"To serve 100 percent on the night like that was pretty awesome," Wortz said. "And to keep her focus and to serve to the same spot every time, that was very nice to see out of her."
The second set was closer but a big run with Kayla Schuette at the service line turned a 16-14 GFW deficit into a 22-16 Thunderbirds' advantage and they held on for the 25-23 win.
The third set was all GFW as it went for the sweep with a 25-21 win.
Schuette was a perfect 24-for-24 serving with an ace on the night and as a team the Thunderbirds were a perfect 70-for-70 serving. It was the second such time this year, GFW was perfect from the service line.
"Coming into the playoffs we have been serving pretty good," Wortz said. "Being perfect, you can't ask for anything better from your team, it means a lot. It's a free point you did not give them."
Briese had five kills and 28 digs. Hannah Neuman and Trettin also added five kills. Schuette had 16 digs and Morgan Sanken added 20 digs.
GFW advances to the Section 2A, South Subsection championship at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at New Ulm High School. The Thunderbirds will face No. 2 seed Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity which beat LeCenter 3-1 Monday.
