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HERMANTOWN — Hermantown's girls volleyball team won three of five matches at the Midwest Fall Classic on Friday and Saturday at St. Michael-Albertville, improving to 15-10 overall with the Section 7AAA playoffs approaching.
The Hawks defeated Pequot Lakes 2-1 and lost to Waconia 2-0 on Friday before beating Rocori 2-1 and Mounds View 2-0 and losing to Sauk Rapids-Rice 2-1 on Saturday.
Hermantown defeated Rocori 28-26, 14-25, 15-11, recovering from a second-set loss to win the deciding set. The Hawks followed with a 25-18, 25-17 sweep of Mounds View before closing the tournament with a three-set loss to Sauk Rapids-Rice.
Coach Jessica Williams' team has won eight of its past 11 matches, including a five-match winning streak that ended with a 3-1 loss to Grand Rapids on Oct. 6.
Junior Audra Schott has been among Hermantown's leading offensive performers, recording 16 kills in a four-set victory over Superior on Sept. 22, 15 against Proctor on Sept. 9 and 10 in a three-set sweep of Duluth Denfeld on Sept. 24.
Setter Kylee Stokke has directed the Hawks' offense, distributing 45 assists and serving three aces against Proctor. She also recorded 41 assists against Superior and 28 against Denfeld. Stokke contributed 23 assists and three blocks in an earlier match against Esko.
Junior Lilah Conley has contributed at the net and in the back row. She finished with 12 kills and a match-high 28 digs against Proctor, 18 digs against Esko and seven kills against Denfeld.
Hermantown's four-set victory over Proctor was among its strongest conference performances. After losing the opening set 27-25, the Hawks won the next three 31-29, 25-21 and 25-18. Schott had 15 kills, Stokke distributed 45 assists, Conley collected 12 kills and 28 digs, and Phoebe Sorenson served three aces.
Senior Evie Nelson has contributed defensively, including 12 digs against Denfeld. Senior Sophie Schulz, a second-team All-Lake Superior Conference selection last season, also provides varsity experience. Conley earned honorable mention all-conference recognition in 2025.
Other returning players include Anna Bergerson, Kadyn Kimpling, Kenzie Zagelmeyer and Riley Woinarowicz.
Hermantown defeated Superior 3-1 on Sept. 22, Denfeld 3-0 on Sept. 24, Rock Ridge 3-0 on Sept. 29 and Hopkins 3-1 on Oct. 1 during its five-match winning streak. Against Hopkins, the Hawks recovered from a 27-25 opening-set loss to win 25-18, 25-13 and 25-17.
Earlier this season, Hermantown defeated White Bear Lake and Irondale at the Duluth East Invitational, adding victories against larger-school competition.
The Hawks entered October with a 4-1 Lake Superior Conference record before their loss to Grand Rapids. Hermantown closes its published regular-season schedule Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a 7 p.m. conference match at Cloquet.
Cloquet eliminated Hermantown in four sets in last year's Section 7AAA quarterfinals.
Hermantown enters the final stretch of the season with an offense led by Schott and Stokke, Conley's production on offense and defense, and an experienced group of returning players.
The Hawks will attempt to build on their 15-10 record and advance beyond last season's section quarterfinal finish.
