VOLLEYBALL: Tigers close in on title

The Hutchinson volleyball team moved another step closer to winning the Wright County Conference East title Monday when it swept the New Prague Trojans for another conference victory.

The Tigers (24-3, 4-0) beat the Trojans in three sets – 25-15, 25-19, 25-20 – to stay undefeated against conference rivals.

This was a particularly satisfying win for the Tigers after the Trojans beat them last year.

“It was good to play them again. Last year we lost in five but should have won,” Hutch hitter Allie Fauth said. “It was good to get revenge on them.”

Revenge wasn’t the only motivating factor. With this win Hutch guaranteed itself at least a share of the WCC East title. But the Tigers don’t feel like sharing, and if they can win their final conference match they won’t have to.

“We want to win it outright,” Hutch head coach Dennis Piechowski said. “We have one big match left against Waconia.”

That match is at 7 p.m. next Tuesday in Waconia, after MEA break. The Tigers don’t have any more matches until then.

“Unfortunately we have some time off here with MEA break,” Piechowski said. “We’ll have to get back into it with a Monday practice, but I think the girls will be excited enough to play at Waconia … It’s a good rivalry.”

Hutch and Waconia ran into each other once already this year and the Tigers won 25-16, 25-19. That was back in early September.

“We played them earlier in the Marshall tournament, but I know they were missing one player for sure. One of their setters,”Piechowski said. “They are obviously a different team from the beginning of September, and we are too. It’s always been a good match, and I don’t expect anything different.”

The Wildcats already have two conference losses, but Delano only has one. If Hutch stubs its toe in Waconia, that could open the door to sharing the title with Delano.

Tigers aiming for top seed in playoffs

This was Hutch’s first match home in more than two weeks, and one of the accomplishments the Tigers achieved while they were gone was reaching the 20-win mark.

It’s the first time the Tigers reached that mark since 2011 when they had 26 wins. It’s a big deal, especially when it comes to section seeding.

“We have to do this because of the section we play in. If you aren’t this successful you are going to be in a tough spot,” Piechowski said. “We are still going to be in a tough spot, but at least we know we can compete and play at the level we have to.”

The Section 2AAA tournament is loaded with top talent. It includes state-ranked teams Prior Lake (No. 1), Eden Prairie (No. 3) and Chaska (No. 6), not to mention other powerhouses like Marshall, Minnetonka and Shakopee.

A top-four seed would give the Tigers a bye in the first round and a home game in the second. It also gives them a little more time to prepare for their opponent.

“I am hoping we’ve done enough for top four. You never know how teams are going to vote, but based on what we’ve done, where we’ve finished and who we’ve played, I think we have a good chance. That was our goal at the beginning of the year.”

Before Hutch can worry about playoffs, it must finish its regular season. The Tigers have two more matches left, including the match in Waconia and the regular season finale against Annandale, Oct. 26, in Hutchinson.

Hutchinson 3, New Prague 0

New Prague … 15 19 20

Hutchinson …. 25 25 25