The Section One championship volleyball matches are set.
In Class AA, top-seeded Stewartville claimed the West Subsection championship while No. 4 seed Red Wing climbed to the top to win the East Subsection.
Both of the top seeds won Class A subsection crowns as Mabel-Canton won the East title and Bethlehem Academy, the defending state champion and ranked No. 1 in the state, again took the West crown.
The section finals will be Saturday at Mayo Civic Center. The Class AA match between Stewartville and Red Wing is at 11 a.m. followed by the Bethlehem Academy and Mabel-Canton Class A title tilt at 1 p.m.
• Bethlehem Academy (22-7) will be the favorite against Mabel-Canton (35-2).
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"We definitely have to play really well, but I think if we stay together we have a good shot," M-C sophomore Savannah Slafter said.
"We're going to have to play our best match of the year," Cougars coach Lonnie Morken added. "But we have it in us. B.A. will have to play well to beat us, too."
• Stewartville (22-8), the defending section and state champion, will have experience on its side against Red Wing (13-15). Stewartville is seeking its 23rd trip to state in 28 years, while Red Wing is looking for its first-ever trip to state.
Stewartville defeated rival Kasson-Mantorville 3-1 on Thursday, while Red Wing eked out a 3-2 victory against Plainview-Elgin-Millville.
"We have a lot of maturity and experience, and a lot of seniors who played in big matches last year," Stewartville senior Jenna Willenborg said. "That experience we gained, it totally helps this time of year."
• Rochester Mayo will play for its third consecutive trip to the Class AAA state tournament, and sixth in school history, at 3 p.m. Saturday against Lakeville South. The Spartans (26-2) defeated Owatonna 3-1 on Thursday to advance to the section final. South (25-5) swept Winona to advance.
