By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Frazee Hornets improved to 13-7 overall and remain just a half game out of first place in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference after picking up a pair of wins last week.

After securing a 3-0 win over Park Rapids Area on Tuesday night, the Hornets defeated the defending state champion Hawley Nuggets on Thursday for their fifth conference win of the season.

This week the Hornets will travel to Rothsay on Tuesday night for a non-conference game, before wrapping up their regular season next week with a home game against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on Monday, a road game against Battle Lake on Tuesday and a home game against Menahga next Thursday night.

Tuesday

The Frazee Hornets continued their success in the conference with a 3-0 sweep over Park Rapids Area on Tuesday night.

The closest game of the night was the first game, which the Hornets easily won by a score of 25-15. They also secured wins by scores of 25-12 and 25-13 to come away with the three game sweep. 

The Hornets were led offensively by Ruby Eckert with 10 kills on .450 hitting with Nevaeh Wirth chipping in with four kills.

Ella Ullrich led the team with 12 assists, while Jordan Nelson had a solid night from the service line with four aces. Defensively, the Hornets were led by Eckert with eight digs, while Wirth and Katie Courneya finished with four digs.

Kills – R. Eckert (.450) 10; N. Wirth (.375) 4; B. O’Hara 3, A. Aschnewitz 3; E. Ullrich 1, L. Schmid 1, J. Nelson 1, M. Blaine 1

Assists – E. Ullrich 12; J. Nelson 6

Aces – J. Nelson 4, R. Eckert 4; K. Courneya 3, K. Aschnewitz 3; E. Ullrich 2, N. Wirth 2

Digs –  R. Eckert 8; N. Wirth 6, K. Courneya 6; K. Aschnewitz 4

Block Assists – N. Wirth 4;  L. Schmid 2, M. Blaine 2

Solo Block  – A. Aschnewitz 1

Thursday

The Hornets remained within striking distance from first place in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference with a 3-1 win over defending state champion Hawley on Thursday night. Frazee is now 5-2 in the conference and trail just Perham, who is at 5-1 in the conference standings. The Hornets have just one game remaining in the conference and are still the only team to defeat Perham in HOL action so far this season.

In their game against Hawley, Frazee jumped out to a 2-0 lead after taking the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-18.

The Nuggets fought back by securing the third game by a score of 25-13, before the Hornets closed the door with a 25-23 win in the fourth set to take the match.

Ruby Eckert and Ella Ullrich both finished with a double-double after Eckert finished with a team-high 21 kills and 22 digs. Ullrich finished with a team-high 17 assists to go along with 11 digs. 

Nevaeh Wirth also reached double figures with 21 digs  and Jordan Nelson finished with a team-high 17 assists. 

Kills – R. Eckert 21; L. Schmid 5; M. Blaine 4, A. Aschnewitz 4;  N. Wirth 3; J. Nelson 2, E. Ullrich 2; B. O’Hara 1

Assists – J. Nelson 17;  E. Ullrich 12

Aces – R. Eckert 4; N. Wirth 2, J. Nelson 2; K. Aschnewitz 1

Digs – R. Eckert 22; N. Wirth 21; E. Ullrich 12; K. Courneya 11; J. Nelson 9; K. Aschnewitz 6; A. Aschnewitz 4