Volleyball: Blaze stays red hot, dominates in playoff opener

The Burnsville volleyball team seems to be peaking at the perfect time.

The red-hot Blaze won its eighth straight match Oct. 30, destroying sixth-seeded Eagan in the Section 3AAA quarterfinals in three games (25-12, 25-12, 25-19). Senior Tori Dixon led the way with 21 kills, five ace serves and eight digs.

The third-seeded Blaze (19-9) avenged its only loss in October. Eagan beat Burnsville in five games during the Lake Conference season back on Oct. 8.

Burnsville finished October with a 9-1 mark and has won 11 of its last 12 matches. Can the Blaze momentum carry into November?

Burnsville will play second-seeded Lakeville North (19-9) in the semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Eastview High School at 5:45 p.m. The No. 4-ranked Panthers beat the Blaze in five games during the conference season back on Sept. 15.

Top-seeded Eastview (19-7) and fifth-seeded Bloomington Jefferson (17-11) will meet in the other semifinal game at 8 p.m. The title game is set for Nov. 7 at South St. Paul High School at 6 p.m. For complete section brackets go to www.mshsl.org.

The Blaze hasn't qualified for state in 11 years. However, if it can get past Lakeville North, Burnsville did beat both Eastview and Jefferson during the regular season.

Meanwhile, senior Abby Olson had 33 setting assists, three kills and two aces against Eagan, while senior Molly Duehn had eight kills and four blocks and junior Megan Scholl chipped in four kills.

Junior Laura Beckmann added six kills, two aces and three digs, while sophomore Alli Butler had three aces and three blocks and sophomore Camille Benson had 16 digs and two aces.