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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MERRILL – The Marshfield volleyball team gave all it had, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to tie its match against Eau Claire North, but the Huskies pulled out the decisive third game to beat the Tigers 3-2 in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday night at Merrill High School.
Eau Claire North won 25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 24-26, 15-13 to advance to Saturday’s sectional final against Merrill at Eau Claire Memorial. Merrill won the first sectional semifinal on Thursday, beating Eau Claire Memorial 25-15, 25-16, 25-21. Eau Clarie North won the sectional last year and made it to state for the second time (also 2005), while Merrill has not been to the state tournament since 1982.
The Tigers, who had just one senior on their roster – setter Mary Wolff – was playing in the sectional for the first time since 2006, the last time Marshfield had made it to the WIAA State Girls Volleyball Tournament. The Tigers went to state seven times from 1998-2006, including four in a row from 2001-04.
Junior Tiffany Stargardt had 21 kills, 20 digs and two service aces to lead the Tigers. Courtney Bauer added 12 kills, Chelsea Akin had seven kills and 15 digs, Miranda Forrest had seven kills and four block kills, Darian Molter had 13 digs and three aces and Wolff had 29 assists for Marshfield.