I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.
Oct. 23, 1998
By Devlyn Brooks
CASS LAKE -- There was nothing to say Thursday after the Cass Lake-Bena volleyball team thrashed the Bemidji Lumberjacks in straight sets 15-3, 15-4, 15-10.
And Bemidji coach Joan McKinnon knew it.
"What's there to say; they were very on, and we were very flat," a bewildered McKinnon said with a blank face. "I don't have any wisdom for you."
The Panthers, a perennial volleyball power in Class A, played nearly flawless volleyball. And the Jacks ... well ... they weren't at the top of their game.
Name it, and the Panthers were doing it well.
Blocking? The Panthers' frontliners Heather Eidsmoe, Tanya Church, Anna Nyberg and Lacey Premo smashed more than a handful of hits into the Jacks frontline and redirected numerous other spikes.
Hitting? Sianneh Mulbah had a huge night from the outside, recording double-digit kills -- including the match winner.
Eidsmoe, Terri Kane, Premo and Nyberg also had quality hitting performances, with Eidsmoe nailing home a thunderous spike in the third game which brought the Cass Lake-Bena contingent to their feet.
Defense? The Panthers were digging up almost anything the Jacks served at them..
Serving? It was not only consistent, but lethal.
"I wanted them to play their best with tournaments starting Monday. It was nice to see them play this well," 13-year Cass Lake-Bena coach Netti Homer said. "We had strong blocks, and the defense did a great job of digging up their hits."
The Lumberjacks, who hadn't played a match in over a week prior to the Cass Lake contest, looked tentative when they took the court. And what little confidence they did have was drained quickly.
The Panthers took control on the first serve, scoring four points before the Jacks managed to get on the board. It was one of three points they would score in the first game.
Up 4-1, Cass Lake traded points with Bemidji, and then with Eidsmoe serving, the Panthers put the lights out with seven consecutive points on four kills and three Bemidji errors.
Bemidji managed another point, but Cass Lake closed it out with three more points around a sideout.
The Jacks improved in game two, rallying a little stronger and making fewer mistakes. But the Panthers pounced on every error they did make.
The Panthers were up 7-0 before Bemidji had it first rally of the night to speak of. They garnered three points on two Panther errors and a Megan Benson/Kendra Goetz block. Bemidji would only muster one more point in game two.
In the third game, the Jacks came close to extending the match, but it was more because of Cass Lake errors than it was good Jacks play.
Bemidji gained its first lead of the night at 4-3, but lost it on an error and a Cass Lake block.
They regained the lead again at 7-5 and at 9-6, but when the Panthers decided to stop messing around it was over quickly.
Cass Lake strung together a three-point rally to take the lead at 10-9, and finished the match on Church's serve with a four-point rally.
Tara Sande led the Jacks in kills with seven, followed by Kendra Goetz at five and Lindsay Sand with four.
"B" Team
The "B" Team wrapped up their season with a 13-15, 15-1, 15-10 win over the Panthers, making them 17-7 on the year. Allie Wilimek shined with a 17-for-18 serving night and numerous spikes.
"C" Team
The "C" Team also won in three sets 15-5, 3-15, 15-8, improving their record to 19-0-1.
The almost perfect squad added a pickup game win versus Crookston on Monday, downing the Pirates 15-1, 15-6.
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