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Wolves prep for 7A tests Ely demolishes Littlefork-Big Falls to open section playoffs
Ely’s first section volleyball contest was little more than a warm-up.
The two-time defending 7A champion Timberwolves scored the first 14 points and never looked back, downing Littlefork-Big Falls 25-13, 25-14, 25-13 at the high school gymnasium.
Ely, which hasn’t lost to a 7A opponent since 2021, didn’t work up much of a sweat while improving to 25-3 and moving on a home quarterfinal clash Friday against Chisholm.
Yet the top-seeded Wolves still had some anxious moments, at least before the opening round affair with the ninth-seeded Vikings began.
“There were lots of nerves,” said Ely Head Coach Megan Wognum. “They’re going to be nervous no matter who we play. Going into playoffs, there’s extra pressure. There’s a lot of history that puts a lot of pressure on them too.”
But any thoughts that this would be a difficult battle for the Wolves evaporated early.
Senior Lilli Rechichi hammered home the first of her 15 kills to ignite the Wolves’ 14-point run and the hosts were on their way.
It was 21-3 before the Vikings mounted a brief comeback against some Ely reserves.
“I would say we did our best right from the beginning and that sometimes can be a challenge for us so I think that was good way for us to start,” said Wognum.
The second and third sets were much like the opener, with Ely building a commanding lead and putting the contest into cruise control.
