Mankato, MN — Crown volleyball brought energy, composure, and plenty of firepower to Mankato on Wednesday night, sweeping Bethany Lutheran in a key UMAC road match up.
The Polars came out firing in the opening set, jumping ahead 8-4 behind two early service aces from Lily Duquaine. Bethany Lutheran battled back to tie the set at 12-12 and later pushed in front 19-17, but Crown stayed steady in a tight finish. The Polars rallied back late and claimed the first set 27-25 to seize momentum.
Set two followed a similar script, with both teams trading runs and the score eventually locking up at 19-19. From there, Crown took control. A timely kill from Delaney Boone, combined with three attacking errors from the Vikings, helped the Polars close out the frame 25-20 and move within one set of the sweep.
Crown carried that momentum into the third and never let Bethany Lutheran regain control. The Polars closed the night with a 25-18 win in set three, securing the 3-0 victory and an important conference result.
Lauren Burnett delivered a standout all-around performance, finishing with 15 kills, three service aces, and 11 digs. Duquaine added another impressive effort with 11 kills, two aces, and 19 digs, while Boone made a major impact in the middle with seven kills and five huge blocks.
The sweep moves Crown back to 4-6 in UMAC play as the Polars continue to build momentum on the road. Crown will next travel to New Ulm to face the Martin Luther College Knights on Saturday.
