With a home win Sunday, Rochester would win regular-season title
Staff report
CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Chill can clinch the first women's United States Pro Volleyball League regular season championship Sunday at Rochester's Mayo Civic Auditorium.
The Rochester-based Chill can wrap up the title with a win over the Grand Rapids Force in the 3 p.m. match. It can also clinch the championship if the Chicago Thunder lose to the St. Louis Quest in a match that starts at the same time.
The Chill put itself in position to claim the title with a 3-1 win over Chicago Thursday night. The Chill is now 10-5 with 32 points. It has three matches remaining on its regular season schedule. Second-place Chicago is 8-6 with 21 points and has four matches left. The Thunder has had four 3-2 wins, which are worth only two points. Wins by 3-0 and 3-1 scores are worth three points.
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Nicole Branagh and Brandy Barratt led the way for the Chill in Thursday's win over Chicago. Branagh had 20 points including 15 kills and Barratt had 141⁄2; points including 11 kills. Wiz Bachman added 131⁄5; points and Tyra Hrper had 10.
The Chill came back from an 8-3 deficit to win Game One by a 25-21 score, lost the second game 28-26 and came back to win the last two 25-17 and 25-21.
Lindsey Berg had 48 assists for the Chill and Addie Mahnken had 14 digs.
The Chill has added former Notre Dame standout Kristy Kreher to its roster, but she didn't play Thursday night. She replaces Lindsay Henning, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
