---

The Chisago Lakes volleyball team took another big step in its postseason journey Friday night, holding off Hill-Murray in a hard-fought 3–1 victory in the Section 4AAA semifinals. The Wildcats delivered one of their most balanced performances of the season, winning by scores of 25–23, 28–26, 23–25, 25–12 to move on.

The Wildcats struck first with a tight 25–23 win in the opening set, thanks to crisp passing and an aggressive finish at the net from seniors Mariah Cave, Kayla Larsen, and Kate Friedner.

The second set was a marathon, with Hill-Murray erasing a late deficit before Chisago Lakes regrouped to close it out 28–26 behind a pair of clutch kills from Cave and Larsen. 

Hill-Murray refused to go quietly, taking the third set 25–23 to stay alive. But the Wildcats dominated the fourth from start to finish, jumping out to a double-digit lead and never letting up. Chisago Lakes sealed the match with a resounding 25–12 win to the delight of a roaring student section.

Cave led the way for the Wildcats, delivering a monster 16 kills on a .500 hitting percentage — an efficient and powerful performance that kept Hill-Murray on its heels. Friedner added 14 kills and three blocks, while Larsen contributed nine kills and anchored the defense with 10 digs.

Sophomore setter Kianna Osmundson was once again the engine of the offense, tallying 24 assists and five digs, while senior Morgan Mayer added 20 assists and nine digs, showing how well the Wildcats’ dual-setter system continues to work.

Defensively, Olivia Anderson provided steady play in the back row, recording 10 digs and 21 serve receptions, while Eliana Taylor and Linnea Carlson chipped in key blocks up front. 

From the service line, the Wildcats were sharp, racking up nine aces. Larsen and Friedner were especially effective, combining for 27 points off serve and keeping Hill-Murray out of system.

The win improves Chisago Lakes to 17-9 on the season and sends them on to the Section 4AAA finals, where they’ll face a tough Mahtomedi squad on the road.

The Zephyrs have breezed through their half of the bracket and remain the only other team standing. The game was played on Wednesday, October 29 after the Press went to print. The Zepyrs were 20-7 on the year coming into it, and hold two wins over the ‘Cats already, a 3-0 sweep in late August and a 2-1 win in a mid-season tournament.

---