A block party propelled third-seeded Stewartville over sixth-seeded Mahtomedi Wednesday night at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, punching their ticket to the Class 3A semifinals.

A dominant defensive display by the Tigers held the Zephyrs to a .011 hitting percentage, and Stewartville head coach Sam Pederson said even battling sickness his team’s effort at the net was “insane.”

“For them to work as hard as they did and feel the way that they did, not our best, huge that we were able to control the game in that aspect,” Pederson said.

Stewartville, a storied Minnesota volleyball program with five state championships, made a statement at the net in its state tournament opener. The Tigers thwarted the Zephyrs’ hopes of an upset in Mahtomedi’s fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

Stewartville overpowered the Zephyrs at the net down the stretch in the first set to take the opening set with a 25-20 victory. This theme continued throughout the match, as the Tigers put up 20 total team blocks to the Zephyrs’ five.

Mahtomedi senior outside hitter Louisa Tarnowski took over in Set 2, posting nine kills in the frame, as the Zephyrs built a 16-11 lead part way through the second set. Tarnowski finished the match with a monster stat line of 21 kills and 21 digs.

Zephyrs senior libero Claire Crothers said the confidence Tarnowski exudes is infectious and integral against a block like Stewartville’s.

“She was feeling good, which made all of us feel good too,” Crothers said. “So, I think that it kind of just spread to the rest of the team and that really helps.”

A late charge from the Tigers forced the set into extras, but Zephyrs senior outside hitter Sahar Ramaley found the donut in Stewartville’s defense to secure the second set, 26-24.

Riding the momentum built at the tail end of Set 2, Stewartville jumped out to a 9-2 lead. The Tigers got big swings from a pair of seniors in middle hitter Matilda Dube and opposite Ella Theobald in the opening stages of the third set.

Stewartville slammed the door shut in the third set, 25-15, as Tigers senior middle hitter Dream Petersohn smashed a swing off Mahtomedi’s block to reclaim its lead in the match.

In the fourth set, Stewartville dominated the net, constructing a 16-8 advantage in search of the blow that would knock out the Zephyrs.

Related Articles

State volleyball: Cretin-Derham Hall on to semis after beating Sauk Rapids-Rice

State volleyball: Apple Valley upsets East Ridge in 4A quarters

State volleyball: Lakeville South begins 4A title defense with win over Sartell

High School Volleyball: Gophers commit Madi Kraft is Eagan’s defensive anchor

Mahtomedi mirrored its first set determination and clawed back into set 4, pulling with two on Stewartville’s first match point. But Theobald tooled the Zephyrs’ block, pushing the Tigers over the line with a 25-22 set 4 win.

Coach Pederson said he is a newer member of the Stewartville volleyball family, but his team understands the tradition and standard that comes with being a Tiger.

“To see them know what that is, but then not just want it to be history, but they want to be a part of it in the way that they can push themselves,” Pederson said. “… It just makes it a lot of fun for us coaches. We get to work on a lot of things that are at a pretty high level and make a difference for us because they’re willing to learn.”

The next challenge for the Tigers is a matchup with Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the Class 3A semifinal Friday morning at 11 a.m. on the same Grand Casino Arena court.

Feeling high and mighty after convincing victories over cellar dwellers Charlotte and Brooklyn, Minnesota consumed a heavy dose of reality Wednesday in New York.

The Knicks lit Minnesota’s defense up en route to a runaway 137-114 victory for New York at Madison Square Garden, which spoiled Anthony Edwards‘ return to the Wolves’ lineup.

Here are takeaways from the Timberwolves’ defeat:

Ant back

Anthony Edwards returned to action after missing the team’s last four games with a hamstring strain. While Edwards was reportedly set to miss two weeks with the ailment, Grade 1 hamstring strains typically carry a 7-to-10 day recovery window.

Wednesday marked the 10th day since Edwards suffered the strain. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters pregame the guard was “itching” to get back on the floor.

However, the star guard was ineffective for Minnesota. The Wolves lost his 29 minutes by 25 points.

Edwards will have to be more effective if Minnesota is to compete with quality teams.

Strong opponent struggles

Minnesota had no issue taking out the likes of Charlotte and Brooklyn in recent games. But strong foes have given the Wolves fits thus far this season.

Minnesota has been handled by the likes of Denver, the Lakers (x2) and now the Knicks. It’s beaten Charlotte, Brooklyn and Indiana, all strong candidates to finish in the bottom five in the NBA standings.

The good news for the Timberwolves: Eight of their next nine games are cupcakes. The bad news: If they can’t contend with the top third of the Association, what’s the point?

Defensive struggles

Minnesota entered the game in 22nd in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 116.4 points per 100 possessions. But, if you’re wondering how they’ve defended quality foes, the defensive rating was 126.2 in losses.

Both numbers are sure to balloon following Wednesday’s game in which the Knicks shot 54% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc. New York tallied 62 points in the paint and, perhaps most prohibitively for Minnesota, grabbed 21 offensive rebounds that led to 31 second-chance points.

A defense-first team in recent years, that end of the floor looks like a liability for Minnesota.

Related Articles

Takeaways from Timberwolves’ win in Brooklyn

Julius Randle leads Wolves past Hornets in Charlotte

Frederick: Where is the Timberwolves’ urgency?

Austin Reaves gives L.A. Lakers another reason to rely on him with buzzer-beater vs. Wolves

Timberwolves players love Target Center’s new theatre-like arena lighting

As he reflected on the incredible effort he made for the Vikings against the Detroit Lions, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel had a bone to pick.

Though garnered praise from his teammates for his ability to make a tackle for a loss from on his back, Van Ginkel was not too happy with the sequence that resulted in him getting knocked down in the first place.

On the particular snap in question, Van Ginkel was lined up with his hand in the dirt, preparing to rush the passer. As soon as the ball was snapped, Van Ginkel got crushed by receiver Kalif Raymond, who motioned inside, then sprinted full speed ahead to make a block.

The hit immediately knocked Van Ginkel off his feet, and while he was left out of position, he quickly diagnosed what was happening around him and still managed to bring running back Jahmyr Gibbs down in the open field.

“I kind of thought it was a dirty play,” Van Ginkel said. “I’m just going to pass rush and all of a sudden I get whiplash because a guy blindsides me.”

Never mind that the block from Raymond technically wasn’t illegal. That didn’t change the way Van Ginkel felt about it.

“I think that it’s something that the league should look at” Van Ginkel said. “We can’t be doing that.”

Asked if he felt it was a cheap shot in real time or after watching the film, Van Ginkel said he knew right away, then he insinuated that he thinks that type of block should be taken out of the game.

“I had no clue he was there,” Van Ginkel said. “How are we supposed to protect ourselves in those cases?”

Related Articles

J.J. McCarthy’s alter ego and where it could take the Vikings

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 10: First half filled with underachievers

Did the Vikings make any moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline?

Mizutani: J.J. McCarthy is just scratching surface for Vikings

Takeaways from the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Lions

A northwestern Minnesota woman has been convicted in the 2024 slaying of her missionary husband in the African country where they were living.

Jackie Shroyer, of Detroit Lakes, was convicted by an Angolan court of plotting to murder Beau Shroyer on Oct. 25, 2024, according to a Wednesday post written by Lead Pastor Troy Easton on the website of the Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes.

“It saddens me deeply to share the following update regarding the legal proceedings involving Jackie Shroyer,” Easton wrote. “This morning, I was notified that Jackie was convicted by an Angolan court of involvement in the murder of her husband, Beau Shroyer.”

Jackie Shroyer is expected to serve her sentence in an Angolan detention facility, Easton added. He did not elaborate on the length of the sentence.

“Though this news is shocking and extremely difficult to comprehend, it’s important for you to know that this verdict follows a very thorough investigation and trial process that was monitored closely, conducted fairly, and carried out with integrity,” Easton said.

“While I am grateful for the clarity and closure this brings, I am also deeply grieved, knowing how much pain and confusion this news carries for so many, especially for Beau and Jackie’s children and family. The Shroyer children continue to be well cared for …,” Easton wrote.

Beau Shroyer was a longtime Detroit Lakes city police officer and member of the Lakes Area Vineyard Church before moving to Africa in 2021 with his wife and five children to do missionary work.

Several young Angolan men, all with criminal records of armed robbery and kidnapping, have also been accused in the case, according to the Angolan federal Criminal Investigation Service.

In a Nov. 7, 2024, report by the Angolan Press Agency, the Criminal Investigation Service alleged that Jackie Shroyer, then 44, was the “mastermind” behind the murder, which allegedly occurred after Beau Shroyer, also 44, was lured to a remote area by the suspects, who feigned engine failure, then fatally stabbed him while his wife was away from the scene.

The motive for the murder, according to the Angolan police agency, was “strong suspicions of a romantic relationship” with a security guard who has been charged, and “a presumed intention of the wife not wanting to leave Angola when her husband’s mission had ended.”