8A VB QF Fosston at Lake of the Woods

Baudette, MN —  The Lake of the Woods Bears are headed to the Section 8A Volleyball Semifinals after surviving a five-set thriller against the Fosston Greyhounds on Friday night.

Set one was tightly contested throughout much of the opening frame. The Bears and Greyhounds traded points until the score was tied 18-18. Fosston then finished on a decisive 7-2 run to claim the set 25-20 and grab a 1-0 lead in the match.

Lake of the Woods responded in set two. Aside from the early stages, the Bears controlled the lead for nearly the entire set and earned a 25-21 victory to even the match at one set apiece.

What followed over the final three sets was enough drama for an entire season.

The Bears came out strong in the third set, building a commanding 10-3 advantage and keeping Fosston at arm’s length throughout. Lake of the Woods appeared poised to take control of the match when it reached set point with a 24-17 lead. However, the Greyhounds refused to go quietly. Behind a tremendous service run from Hannah Fonder, Fosston rattled off nine consecutive points, stunning the Bears with a 26-24 comeback victory and taking a 2-1 match lead.

Facing the disappointment of letting set three slip away, Lake of the Woods needed a response in the fourth. Fosston’s momentum carried over early, with the teams battling point-for-point before the Bears, led by Ava Haack and her match-high 27 kills, surged ahead 22-13. Yet once again the Greyhounds mounted a remarkable rally, scoring eight straight points to narrow the deficit to 22-21. Fosston eventually earned match point and served with a 24-23 advantage, but the Bears steadied themselves at the perfect time. Lake of the Woods scored the final three points of the set to escape with a 26-24 win and force a decisive fifth set.

The winner-take-all fifth set lived up to the anticipation. The teams combined for eight ties and four lead changes in a back-and-forth battle that neither side could seize control of. Fosston twice found itself serving for the match at 14-13 and again at 15-14, but the Bears continued to answer every challenge. Lake of the Woods eventually took a 16-15 lead before the final rally of the evening ended with a four hit violation called against the Greyhounds. The decision brought an abrupt end to one of the most fiercely contest matches of the season, giving the Bears a 17-15 victory and a trip to the section semifinals.

Lake of the Woods advances to the Section 8A semifinals for the first time since 2022 and will face East Grand Forks Sacred Heart. Fosston’s season comes to an end with an 18-11 record. The Greyhounds also say goodbye to seniors Ava Hayes, Norah Marquis, and Abi Seed, who played their final match in a memorable postseason battle.