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Grantsburg 3, Cuba City 0



Box Score



What on paper appeared to be a battle of heavyweights in the Division 3 State finals quickly turned into a one-sided volleyball clinic as Grantsburg swept Cuba City 25-14, 25-21, 25-11 at the Resch Center Saturday afternoon.



The Pirates dominated every facet of the match--Grantsburg out-killed the Cubans 47-19, out-aced the Cubans 8-1, out-dug the Cubans 64-54, out-blocked the Cubans 7-4 a hit an impressive .310 while holding Cuba City to .019 hitting.



The Grantsburg hitters put on an offensive expo as junior Outside Hitter and All-State shoe-in Kortney Morrin and senior Outside Hitter Annie Palmquist tallied 20 and 15 kills apiece, as the Pirates won its second State championship after finishing runner-up last season.



Morrin also recorded 18 digs and three aces on the afternoon. Her 20 kills also ranks fifth all-time in a Division 3 three-set State match.



Set one was all Grantsburg as the Pirates started off on a 6-1 run. Morrin was huge in hitting around the block and finding the deep lines in the front line, while picking up two consecutive aces once she moved to the back row. Cuba City just couldn't get in system for much of the day as it was unable to dig many Pirate attacks.



Cuba City tallied two quick points to open set two with a service ace and a Grantsburg hitting error. Grantsburg responded in taking the next six points thanks to continued hitting and receiving errors by the Cubans. The momentum then swung the other way when Grantsburg had troubles keeping their attacks in before Palmquist finally ended the run on an open net kill. While Morrin hit around it, Palmquist used high hands and hit over the block, sending the Cuban defense scrambling. Palmquist registered the final three points for the Pirates, as they secured a four-point victory.



Grantsburg once again opened with two errors, but Palmquist answered with a thunderous kill between the block to open set three. With Morrin at serve, Grantsburg had its way with Cuba City as difficulties receiving the jump serve with heavy top spin. Senior Middle Hitter Kallie Thoreson got in on the action, recording a kill and two consecutive blocks, as the much smoother, more fluid Pirates cruised to a resounding 25-11 third set win.



Cuba City's senior Middle Hitter Emily Kaiser led the Cubans with eight kills and a .138 hitting percentage.



Game Ball: Junior Outside Hitter Kortney Morrin's performance Saturday should turn some heads. Her athleticism is evident from her statistics, yet her game is so much more impressive in person. Morrin has the brains of a coaches daughter and the talent to back it up. And bad news for next year's opponents: she'll be back.