This fall is the completion of unfinished business, at least in the desires of the Chaska volleyball team. The Hawks began the new season the same way they kicked off last fall — with a championship in the Gold Division of the 5th annual Breakdown/Midwest Volleyball Warehouse Summer Elite volleyball tournament on Saturday, Aug. 2. Chaska swept past all six opponents on the day, including a 25-16, 25-10 defeat of Minnetonka in the championship match.

But unlike last year when the Hawks' high hopes for a state title ended with an upset loss to Delano in the Section 2AAA finals, this veteran Chaska team wants to close the deal.

"I think that's going to be our motto," said All-State senior outside hitter Erin Schindler of the “unfinished business” mantra. "We're going to try to stay really humble at the beginning, but push through at the end."

"We want to come back and win," admitted All-State senior middle hitter Sarah Kelly, who had hoped for a rematch with Delano in the tournament, but the Tigers fell to Minnetonka in the quarterfinals.

Schindler and Kelly helped spur the tournament victory, combining for 14 kills and three big blocks in the championship match victory. Kelly recorded six kills in the opening set, when a late run turned a 17-14 edge into a 25-16 victory. Lindsay Snuggerud served six straight points during the run, including a pair of aces. Schindler had four kills in the second set, as Chaska finished off the sweep, 25-10. Senior setter Makayla Wenzel recorded 15 set assists.

Chaska certainly played as the well-oiled machine that claimed last year's title. The Hawks spent the entire offseason playing JO volleyball together rather than splitting up into various clubs. The cohesiveness they gained showed on Saturday.

"We've played with each other all year round, and that's definitely an advantage for us," said Schindler.

Chaska swept Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (25-19, 26-24), Win-E-Mac (25-20, 25-17) and Maple Lake (25-15, 25-21) in pool play, then powered past last year's runner-up Prior Lake (25-23, 26-24) in the quarterfinals and Class A dynasty Bethlehem Academy (25-18, 25-19) in the semifinals.

Minnetonka also had a great run to reach the final. Other than the straight-set loss to Chaska, the Skippers dropped only one other set, in a three-set thriller against Delano in the quarterfinals (25-19, 23-25, 15-13).

In the other bracket championships, East Ridge defeated Cretin-Derham Hall in the Silver Division (26-24, 25-17) and Jackson County Central beat Grand Rapids Central in the Bronze Division (25-19, 25-15).

— Tim Kolehmainen

Quarterfinals
Chaska def. Prior Lake, 25-23, 26-24
Bethlehem Academy def. Roseville, 25-19, 25-15
Minnetonka def. Delano, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13
Rosemount def. Fillmore Central, 25-17, 25-17

Semifinals
Chaska def. Bethlehem Academy, 25-18, 25-19
Minnetonka def. Rosemount, 25-18, 25-19

Final
Chaska def. Minnetonka, 25-16, 25-10

Quarterfinals
Maple Lake def. St. Croix Lutheran, 20-25, 27-25, 15-13
Cretin-Derham Hall def. Farmington, 25-17, 25-18
East Ridge def. New Life Academy, 29-27, 25-23
Osseo def. Hayfield, 25-21, 21-25, 15-11

Semifinals
Cretin-Derham Hall def. Maple Lake, 25-14, 25-15
East Ridge def. Osseo, 25-19, 25-20

Final
East Ridge def. Cretin-Derham Hall, 26-24, 25-17

Quarterfinals
Andover def. B-B-E, 25-22, 24-26, 15-13
Grand Rapids def. Nevis, 25-18, 25-13
Jackson Co Central def. Centennial, 25-13, 25-18
Moorhead def. Edina, 25-11, 25-20

Semifinals
Grand Rapids def. Andover, 25-20, 30-28
Jackson Co Central def. Moorhead, 28-26, 25-14

Final
Jackson Co Central def. Grand Rapids, 25-19, 25-15

Chaska def. B-B-E, 25-19, 26-24
Maple Lake def. Win-E-Mac, 25-18, 25-14
Chaska def. Win-E-Mac, 25-20, 25-17
Maple Lake def. B-B-E, 25-21, 25-22
B-B-E def. Win-E-Mac, 25-11, 25-22
Chaska def. Maple Lake, 25-15, 25-21

Delano def. New Life Academy, 25-21, 13-25, 15-8
Centennial def. Armstrong, 25-12, 16-25, 17-15
Delano def. Armstrong, 25-10, 25-18
New Life Academy def. Centennial, 25-22, 25-23
New Life Academy def. Armstrong, 25-16, 25-10
Delano def. Centennial, 25-18, 25-16

Osseo def. Fillmore Central, 25-19, 16-25, 15-11
Moorhead def. Cloquet, 27-25, 16-25, 15-8
Osseo def. Cloquet, 25-13, 27-25
Fillmore Central def. Moorhead, 25-22, 25-20
Fillmore Central def. Cloquet, 25-20, 25-23
Moorhead def. Osseo, 25-19, 22-25, 16-14

Bethlehem Academy def. Grand Rapids, 25-14, 25-9
Farmington def. Lakeville North, 25-18, 25-16
Bethlehem Academy def. Farmington, 25-16, 25-20
Grand Rapids def. Lakeville North, 25-22, 25-17
Farmington def. Grand Rapids, 25-11, 25-17
Bethlehem Academy def. Lakeville North, 25-14, 25-12

Roseville def. Mounds View, 25-14, 25-16
Cretin-Derham Hall def. Nevis, 25-21, 25-9
Roseville def. Nevis, 25-9, 25-20
Cretin-Derham Hall def. Mounds View, 25-17, 25-12
Nevis def. Mounds View, 25-17, 25-19
Roseville def. Cretin-Derham Hall, 25-17, 25-18

Edina def. Mpls Southwest, 25-18, 25-20
Rosemount def. Hayfield, 25-17, 25-13
Hayfield def. Edina, 25-21, 17-25, 15-12
Rosemount def. Mpls Southwest, 24-26, 25-21, 15-12
Hayfield def. Mpls Southwest, 25-18, 17-25, 16-14
Rosemount def. Edina, 25-15, 25-22

Minnetonka def. East Ridge, 25-14, 25-22
Jackson Co Central def. Hill-Murray, 25-11, 25-21
Minnetonka def. Jackson Co Central, 25-19, 25-21
East Ridge def. Hill-Murray, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13
East Ridge def. Jackson Co Central, 25-23, 25-21
Minnetonka def. Hill-Murray, 25-22, 25-16

Prior Lake def. Andover, 25-16, 25-11
St. Croix Lutheran def. SW Christian, 25-19, 25-15
Prior Lake def. SW Christian, 25-12, 25-10
St. Croix Lutheran def. Andover, 25-18, 25-22
Andover def. SW Christian, 25-12, 24-26, 15-12
Prior Lake def. St. Croix Lutheran, 25-16, 25-14