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GREEN BAY – The magical run of the Auburndale volleyball team will continue for one more day.
The Apaches survived their fourth five-set match of the postseason, defeating Racine St. Catherine’s 3-2 in a Division 3 semifinal Friday at the 2013 WIAA State Girls Volleyball Tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
The Apaches won 25-22, 28-26, 20-25, 15-25, 15-10, to advance to Saturday’s Division 3 championship match against Eau Claire Regis, a 3-0 winner over Brodhead in the other semifinal Friday.
The win is Auburndale’s first in three trips to the state tournament. The Apaches lost semifinal matches in 2009 and 2010, the latter to St. Catherine’s who went on to win the title that year.
Senior hitter Camille Swart had 20 kills, libero Hannah Castellano had 26 digs and five service aces, and senior Kendra Kundinger had 36 assists and 14 digs for the Apaches.
Shannon Yahnke added 13 kills and three aces, and Kelly Brokish had 15 digs for Auburndale.
After winning the first two games, the second 28-26 in a tough battle, St. Cat’s mounted a comeback and won the next two games to even the match.
Auburndale regrouped and pulled away in Game 5 to win the match. The Apaches, who were seeded No. 5 in their regional, have now defeated three No. 1 seeds on their way to the state title game.
St. Catherine’s had entered the state tournament without a set loss in the postseason, winning its four previous matches 3-0.
Abby Jeffcoat had 33 kills and setter Ellie LeCount had 54 assists for St. Catherine’s.
Saturday’s championship match will be streamed online at foxsportswisconsin.com and televised live on Fox Sports Wisconsin at 11:30 a.m.