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The Chisago Lakes volleyball team worked overtime this week to earn three extra victories at the Coon Rapids Tournament.

CL 2, Big Lake 1

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Wildcats began the day with a match against the Mississippi 8's Big Lake Hornets.

The early start to the day proved to be tough for the Wildcats to overcome, as they dropped the first set of the match 25-20, and risked starting the day off with a costly loss.

But, the girls ratcheted up the intensity, and smashed the Hornets in the second set, winning easily 25-10. In the third and deciding set (tournaments only require two set wins to take the match), the Wildcats stung the Hornets with a 15-12 win.

"We just weren't awake when they stepped on the court," Head Coach Katie Larson said of her team's early struggles. "We need to have a high intensity level as soon as we step on the court."

CL 2, Cloquet 1

In another three set match, the 'Cats again struggled early to match the fiery demeanor of Cloquet. In the first set the Wildcats failed to string together any sustained scoring, and they dropped the set 25-23.

Much like the Big Lake match, however, the Wildcats came roaring back in the second set.

Their passing was more crisp, their spikes seemed to find the gym floor more often and their intensity was through the Coon Rapids gym's roof in the 25-17 win. The momentum the Wildcats built in the second set carried over to the third set, as they easily dispatched Cloquet 15-11 to win the match.

CL 2, Hill Murray 1

Chisago Lakes on this day unfortunately had another slow start.

The Pioneers came at the Wildcats head on in the first set and it showed. The 'Cats dropped their third first set in a row, but, like a true wildcat, when the squad got backed into the corner, they showed their teeth, flashed their claws and fought their way out.

This time, they came out with even more of an attitude in the second and third sets, winning 25--12 and 15-8 to move to 3-0 in the tournament and face the Greyhounds of Duluth East.

Duluth East 2, CL 0

The Wildcats were finally shut down for more than just one set, as Duluth East used their height and their power in the two set win.

In the first set, the Greyhounds went up early and kept a healthy distance between the two teams, winning the set 25-18.

The second set was a little closer, but the 'Cats couldn't claw their way back as the Greyhounds won 25-20.

Even with the sour taste of a loss to end the tournament, Larson still felt her team played exceptional in the tournament. "Courtney Fautsch is just amazing," she said. "She played all year round, and you can tell. She is so knowledgable about the game, she is just our go-to girl."

Larson also heaped praise on two other key players, Rachel Nelson and Mackenzie Maher. "Rachel just has such a big swing in the middle and Mackenzie is the key to our offense. She can get the set up going for us."

Larson also thought libero Alex Hoyt played a good tournament, handing out nice passes for the rest of the team.

CL 3, Irondale 0

In an important North Suburban Conference match up on Monday, Sept. 8, the Wildcats beat up on the Knights for three straight sets and sent them home with a demoralizing loss.

The first set was the only close one of the night as Irondale stayed with Chisago Lakes most of the time, but the Wildcats ended it with a 25-22 win. "We had a little bit of a rough start. The girls were kind of tired," Larson said. "But, then we kicked it into gear."

That gear was overdrive as the Wildcats cruised to a 25-17 victory in the second set, and a 25-10 victory in the third set.

The offense had a fire lit under it for the second and third sets, and it showed. "The girls played a much quicker offense and has much better passing," Larson said of her team's performance against the Knights. "After the first set, we just started communicating better."

Larson again pointed to Nelson, Fautsch and Maher as key to the Wildcats' big victory.

After winning four matches in three days, Larson knows there are still things to work on and there are things that are going great for the Wildcats. "Although it was better, we still need to work on our pasing," she said. "But to stay on this roll, we have to keep our offense quick and keep the defense one step behind us all the time."

The Wildcats will have a chance to continue working on their passing when they suit up against the Columbia Heights Hylanders tonight (Sept. 11) at 7 p.m. in Columbia Heights.

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