VOLLEYBALL: Bemidji No. 2 seed in sub-section tournament
BEMIDJI – A coin flip cost the Bemidji volleyball team a top seed in North Sub-Section 8-3A and could force the Lumberjacks to travel to Monticello on Tuesday instead of staying home and hosting a section semifinal.
The Jacks and Fergus Falls tied for first in the sub-section tournament coaches’ seeding. Each team received three first-place votes and a pair of seconds.
Because the teams didn’t face each other this fall, a coin flip was conducted by section official Dave Hartmann.
Fergus Falls won the flip and was awarded the North’s top seed. BHS was relegated to the second spot.
The section meet opens today and among the matchups is No. 3 Alexandria entertaining No. 6 Detroit Lakes. That winner will head to Bemidji 7 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.
If the Lumberjacks win that match they will, barring an upset, head to Monticello 7 p.m. Tuesday to face the top seed from the South.
Fergus Falls will open Friday against either No. 4 Moorhead or No. 5 Brainerd. If the Otters win that match they will be home on Tuesday for the semifinals.
Section 8A, 8-2A tournaments
Cass Lake-Bena is the highest-ranking area team in the Section 8A volleyball playoffs, receiving the No. 5 seed in the 12-team field. The Panthers begin their postseason 7 p.m. Thursday at home against No. 12 Indus.
If CL-B wins Thursday it will visit No. 4 Clearbrook-Gonvick on Friday. That winner will advance to the section quarterfinals and a 6 p.m. match on Oct. 30.
In Thursday’s other upper-bracket opener No. 8 Laporte will host No. 9 Blackduck. That winner will battle No. 1 Lake of the Woods on Friday.
In Thursday’s lower-bracket openers, No. 11 Bug O Nay Ge Shig travels to No. 6 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and No. 7 Kelliher-Northome hosts No. 10 Red Lake.
In Section 8-2A Bagley (1-20) drew the No. 8 seed in the North Sub-Section and will open Thursday at No. 1 Thief River Falls (21-5).
If the Flyers can pull off the upset they will play Friday at either No. 4 Roseau or No. 5 Warroad.
