Winona Claims Class 1 Third Place Trophy in Five-Set Victory

Winona claims Class 1 third-place trophy in five-set thriller over Billings

Winona secured the Class 1 third-place trophy on Thursday, overcoming a resilient Billings squad in a grueling five-set match.

The contest was a seesaw affair that required a decisive fifth set to separate the two teams. Winona opened the match with clinical precision, taking the first set 25-12 to establish an early lead. However, Billings responded with equal intensity, mirroring Winona’s dominance to claim the second set 25-13 and leveling the match.

The momentum shifts in a high-stakes battle

The third set saw Winona attempt to regain control, jumping to a 9-4 lead. That advantage proved fleeting, however, as Billings orchestrated an 8-1 run to take a 12-10 lead. Billings continued to build pressure with a 5-0 run, extending their advantage to 18-12. Despite a late push from the Wildcats, Billings held steady to win the set 25-23, heading into the fourth set with a 2-1 advantage.

Facing a potential loss, Winona found themselves at match point in the fourth set with a 24-21 lead. Billings refused to concede, utilizing a pair of Alexa Garbee kills and an attack error by Winona to force the set to a 24-24 tie. Winona avoided a collapse, scoring two consecutive points to win the set and force the fifth-set tiebreaker.

In the final frame, Winona maintained control from the start, never trailing on their way to a 15-11 win. The victory provides Winona with its 17th state trophy overall and its second-ever third-place trophy. The Wildcats conclude their season with a 30-9-2 record.

Key players score high points

The match featured high-level individual production from both sides, particularly in the middle and back rows. Winona’s offense was anchored by Sadie Kile, who recorded 18 kills, while Lauren Martin added 16 kills. Bristol Lay directed the Wildcats’ attack with 38 assists and four aces, and Martin also contributed significantly to the defense, leading six players in double-digit digs with a total of 22.

Billings was led by a standout performance from Alexa Garbee, who tallied 37 kills, 22 digs, and 15 assists. Ava Rhoads had 32 assists and 14 kills for Billings, while Ashlynn Johnson and Pearl Her each recorded 26 and 25 digs, respectively.

Player	Team	Key Statistic
Alexa Garbee	Billings	37 Kills, 22 Digs, 15 Assists
Sadie Kile	Winona	18 Kills
Lauren Martin	Winona	16 Kills, 22 Digs
Bristol Lay	Winona	38 Assists, 4 Aces
Ava Rhoads	Billings	32 Assists, 14 Kills
Ashlynn Johnson	Billings	26 Digs
Pearl Her	Billings	25 Digs