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Giants of August

By Tim Kolehmainen, Executive Editor, 08/06/11, 2:16PM CDT

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LeSueur-Henderson beats Hopkins to earn Gold Division title


LeSueur-Henderson captured the Gold Division title at the 2nd annual Breakdown/Midwest Volleyball Warehouse Summer Elite Tournament Saturday, Aug. 6. The Giants beat Hopkins in two, 25-22, 25-16. (Photo by Tim Kolehmainen).

At 5-foot-11, LeSueur-Henderson junior outside hitter Jess Thelemann is no giant, but she certaintly played like one Saturday night.  Behind Thelemann's overpowering 13 kills, the Giants rolled past Hopkins in the Gold Division championship of the 2nd annual Breakdown/Midwest Volleyball Warehouse Summer Elite volleyball tournament, 25-22, 25-16.

"She just goes in very aggressive," said Giants' setter Ali Plieseis, who finished with 22 set assists, many to Thelemann.  The junior hitter was unstoppable, with a quick arm swing that generated plenty of velocity on her hits.

"When we really started going, Jess was on fire," said Plieseis.

Saturday night, it looked like everything was working. Once Thelemann got it going midway through the first set, Plieseis continued to feed her the ball.  The junior outside hitter pounded kills at the Royals' defense, then when they stepped up to block, she read it perfectly for tips.  Thelemann racked up six kills in the first set, then added seven more in the second.

"We work together. We talk together and tell each other what's working," continued Plieseis.

LeSueur-Henderson, a Class AA team, hopes that the Summer Elite Tournament springboards into the regular season as it did for last year's champion, Lakeville North.  The Panthers parlayed the August tourney title into their first-ever state Class AAA high school championship.  The Giants certainly impressed, beating all Class AAA foes on Saturday.

"With a whole new team -- we graduated 10 seniors -- it will really help us be prepared for the regular season," agreed Thelemann.

Taylor Lockett led Hopkins with five kills, while Sam Swenson added two kills and seven set assists.

In the other bracket championships, Blaine swept Stewartville in the Silver Division (25-14, 25-16) and Hill-Murray edged Belle Plaine in the Bronze Division (20-25, 25-19, 15-13).

Gold playoff bracket

Quarterfinals
Hopkins def. Lakeville North 23-25, 27-25, 15-11
Shakopee def. SW Christian 25-19, 25-20
Jackson CC def. Bethlehem Academy 25-13, 23-25, 15-9
LeSueur-Henderson def. Andover 26-24, 21-25, 15-10

Semifinals
Hopkins def. Shakopee 25-23, 19-25, 15-12
LeSueur-Henderson def. Jackson CC 15-25, 25-21, 15-11

Final
LeSueur-Henderson def. Hopkins 25-22, 25-16

Silver playoff bracket

Quarterfinals
Chaska def. Marshall 22-25, 25-12, 15-13
Stewartville def. Minneota 26-24, 26-24
Blaine def. Lakeville South 28-26, 26-28, 16-14
Win-E-Mac def. Eden Prairie 25-20, 28-26

Semifinals
Stewartville def. Chaska 26-24, 27-29, 15-3
Blaine def. Win-E-Mac 27-25, 25-21

Final
Blaine def. Stewartville 25-14, 25-16

Bronze playoff bracket

Quarterfinals
Duluth East def. Visitation 25-22, 25-19
Hill-Murray def. East Ridge 25-11, 21-25, 15-8
Belle Plaine def. B-B-E 25-20, 25-15
Byron def. Owatonna 28-26, 19-25, 15-6

Semifinals
Hill-Murray def. Duluth East 14-25, 25-16, 15-12
Belle Plaine def. Byron 25-14, 25-18

Final
Hill-Murray def. Belle Plaine 20-25, 25-19, 15-13


Pool 1 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Lakeville North 3-0 6-0
Chaska 2-1 4-2
Visitation 1-2 2-4
Armstrong 0-3 0-6

Lakeville North def. Visitation 25-18, 25-21
Chaska def. Armstrong 25-15, 25-12
Lakeville North def. Armstrong 25-21, 25-18
Chaska def. Visitation 25-13, 25-20
Visitation def. Armstrong 25-10, 25-19
Lakeville North def. Chaska 26-24, 25-20

Pool 2 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Jackson CC 3-0 6-0
Lakeville South 2-1 4-2
B-B-E 1-2 2-5
Osseo 0-3 1-6

Jackson CC def. Osseo 25-12, 25-9
Lakeville South def. B-B-E 25-20, 25-19
Jackson CC def. B-B-E 25-15, 25-8
Lakeville South def. Osseo 25-16, 25-19
B-B-E def. Osseo 20-25, 25-14, 15-7
Jackson CC def. Lakeville South 25-21, 25-18

Pool 3 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
LeSueur-Henderson 3-0 6-0
Win-E-Mac 2-1 4-3
Owatonna 1-2 3-4
Waconia 0-3 0-6

Owatonna def. Waconia 25-14, 25-9
LeSueur-Henderson def. Win-E-Mac 25-21, 25-17
Win-E-Mac def. Waconia 25-17, 25-18
LeSueur-Henderson def. Owatonna 25-21, 25-19
Win-E-Mac def. Owatonna 8-25, 25-16, 15-11
LeSueur-Henderson def. Waconia 25-11, 25-23

Pool 4 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
SW Christian 2-1 4-4
Stewartville 2-1 5-2
East Ridge 1-2 3-4
Centennial 1-2 2-4

East Ridge def. Centennial 25-23, 25-16
SW Christian def. Stewartville 21-25, 25-23, 16-14
Centennial def. SW Christian 25-12, 25-21
Stewartville def. East Ridge 25-18, 25-17
SW Christian def. East Ridge 25-21, 19-25, 15-7
Stewarville def. Centennial 25-18, 25-21

Pool 5 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Shakopee 3-0 6-2
Minneota 2-1 4-4
Hill-Murray 1-2 4-4
Bemidji 0-3 2-6

Shakopee def. Minneota 25-23, 25-14
Hill-Murray def. Bemidji 25-17, 25-14
Shakopee def. Bemidji 25-27, 25-23, 15-11
Minneota def. Hill-Murray 17-25, 26-24, 15-11
Minneota def. Bemidji 25-19, 18-25, 15-7
Shakopee def. Hill-Murray 25-21, 23-25, 15-11

Pool 6 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Andover 3-0 6-1
Eden Prairie 2-1 5-4
Byron 1-2 3-4
Nevis 0-3 1-6

Andover def. Byron 25-14, 27-25
Eden Prairie def. Nevis 25-16, 25-27, 15-13
Andover def. Nevis 25-21, 25-17
Eden Prairie def. Byron 21-25, 25-18, 15-9
Byron def. Nevis 25-6, 25-19
Andover def. Eden Prairie 26-24, 22-25, 15-13

Pool 7 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Bethlehem Acad 3-0 6-1
Blaine 1-2 3-4
Belle Plaine 1-2 3-5
Prior Lake 1-2 2-4

Bethlehem Acad def. Belle Plaine 23-25, 25-23, 15-9
Blaine def. Prior Lake 25-20, 25-11
Bethlehem Acad def. Prior Lake 25-22, 25-20
Belle Plaine def. Blaine 25-20, 23-25, 15-12
Prior Lake def. Belle Plaine 25-17, 25-19
Bethlehem Acad def. Blaine 25-19, 25-17

Pool 8 results

Team Match W-L Set W-L
Hopkins 3-0 6-1
Marshall 2-1 5-2
Duluth East 1-2 2-4
Upsala 0-3 0-6

Hopkins def. Upsala 25-9, 25-15
Marshall def. Duluth East 25-14, 25-23
Hopkins def. Duluth East 25-20, 25-15
Marshall def. Upsala 25-16, 25-15
Duluth East def. Upsala 25-14, 27-25
Hopkins def. Marshall 25-20, 24-26, 15-8

Summer Elite Volleyball reprints available!

Photos from today's event may be purchased from the Breakdown! Click on the link above to place an order.

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