, 
The Luverne volleyball team took on Worthington at home Tuesday, Sept. 28, with a boisterous crowd of fans, young and old, from both sides of the net. The energy seemed to magnify with each game of the five-game battle, with Luverne emerging as the victor at 3-2.
Luverne dominated Game 1 of the match establishing a five-point lead with Elise Ferrell delivering a couple of ace serves and her teammates, Trista Baustian and Kamryn Van Batavia, delivering set assists and kills.
Worthington called a time-out to slow Luverne's momentum, but Van Batavia delivered a surprising tap over the net to put another point on the board after the break.
The Cardinals continued their run with Baustian assisting Christina Wagner for a kill, and Macy Stratton executing a dig to Baustian who assisted Morgan Ahrendt on a kill.
Luverne further divided the point spread with a series of textbook volleyball plays: Anja Jarchow passed to Reghan Bork who assisted Ferrell on one of her powerful kills. Then, Wagner and Ferrell executed a block to put Luverne up by eight.
Ferrell dug up a pass to Baustian who put it over the net. Baustian, back at work, passed to Bork who set for Macy Stratton’s back row attack, and Luverne was up by 10. Luverne went on to win Game 1 by a score of 25-13.
Worthington woke up for Game 2 with a quick five-point lead. Luverne then rattled the Trojans with a blow by Stratton, Bork and Ferrell and then Stratton, Bork and Wagner for successive kills.
Bork then assisted Baustian on a kill to bring Luverne within two points.
A series of errors by both teams and a play by Wagner to Ferrell to Ahrendt for the kill tied the teams.
Worthington put up some excellent blocks and delivered wicked kills to keep the Cardinals at bay. Worthington won Game 2 by 20-25.
Both teams were fired up for Game 3. Luverne took the lead with a couple of plays led by Stratton executing digs to the setters, Baustian and Bork, to aid Ferrell and Baustian, respectively, to score.
Worthington caught up and took the lead by six points. Luverne slowly got some momentum back when Wagner and Baustian went up for a block on defense, and later, the duo paired up on offense for a point.
Then, Stratton delivered a few ace serves to put Luverne even with Worthington. After that, it was oscillating points until the score was tied at 24.
Needing two points to win, Ferrell sent a ball over the net that Worthington couldn’t return, and she delivered a light serve that the Trojans sent out of bounds. Luverne won Game 3 at 26-24.
Game 4 proved to be no less exciting.
Luverne started with the first point on the board but slipped behind Worthington on a series of Cardinal errors.
Luverne battled back with a win in Game 5, 15-12 and won the match.
The Cardinals were scheduled to meet Jackson on the road Tuesday and Martin County West at home Thursday this week.
Stat Highlights
Team serving percentage was 97% (103-106)
Serves: Christina Wagner 21/21 with 2 aces; Macy Stratton 22/22 wtih 2 aces
Set assists: Reghan Bork 23; Trista Baustian 17
Blocks: Morgan Ahrendt 2 solos & 4 assists; Elise Ferrell 2 solos & 6 assists
Attacks: Elise Ferrell 15; Kamryn Van Batavia 11