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Wolves get “threepeat” Kallberg, Rechichi combine for 34 kills in title game sweep
Some first set turbulence was only temporary.
A late rally fueled by sophomore Audrey Kallberg helped the Ely Timberwolves get through that patchy air, and the high-flying high school volleyball team was at cruise altitude the rest of the way and claimed a third straight Section 7A title Saturday afternoon at Hermantown.
Kallberg recorded a match-high 18 kills, and senior all-stater Lilli Rechichi added 16 more in a 27-25, 25-15, 25-18 championship game sweep over the feisty Bigfork Huskies.
Ely ran its record to 28-3 and moved on to a Thursday state quarterfinal at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.
The Wolves’ third straight state tournament berth appeared to be in jeopardy, at least briefly, during the opening set.
Bigfork, which surprised many by moving on to the final with upset wins over North Woods and Floodwood, grabbed a 20-15 lead after falling behind 14-7.
Ely Head Coach Megan Wognum burned two timeouts during the run in an effort to calm the jittery Wolves.
“There was a lot of nerves today,” said Wognum. “And I think that kicked in right there and we saw Bigfork was ready to compete. But once we got into our rhythm it was a lot better.”
Kallberg helped turn the tide with a series of hits. The sophomore buried a kill to put the Wolves up 22-21, and the teams traded blows after that.
Ely was unable to finish things after grabbing a 2422 edge, and it took another Kallberg kill, off a feed from setter Gretta Lowe, to give the Wolves a hard-fought win.
“She showed up today,” Wognum said of Kallberg. “When she and Gretta click,
