The Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels clinched this year's Heart O' Lakes conference volleyball championship with a 3-1 victory over the Yellowjackets.
"Even though we didn't win the match it was very competitive and came right down to the wire," Head Coach Dan Christenson said.
The Rebels finished conference play undefeated at 7-0. Hawley took second place at 6-1, followed by the Yellowjackets with a record of 5-2.
"The kids are mentally tougher at this time of the year and exactly where we want to be."
Perham finished a busy week of play after four Saturday matches as hosts of the Perham Invitational and victories over Frazee and West Central Area, along with the conference title match.
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"We've had a good season and are excited for a post-season run."
A victory in the final match of the regular season versus Detroit Lakes, along with some help from other teams, could place Perham at a four seed in section play and provide a home match for the first round of the playoffs.
"We need this one. We need some help from other teams as far as section seeding is concerned. We'll play the hand that is dealt. If we happen to end up on the road for the first round so be it."
Many of the girls on this year's team were part of a deep run to the section final last year. Perham entered play last year as the seven seed losing to state-ranked Wadena-Deer Creek in the section final.
Katrina Moenkedick led the Jackets with 11 kills versus DGF. Brooke Mickelson had 10. Kaylan Huber had four aces and an outstanding defensive effort with 24 digs. Mickelson had 20 digs.
Down 7-0 to start the match, Perham came back behind the strong serving of Huber. Ten straight service points brought the Jackets back.
Perham would take game one 25-21.
Perham would not muster another run greater than five points the rest of the night. The Yellowjackets held a lead of 21-19 in game three, and tied at 20-20 in game four.
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"(We) proved that we lacked the finishing power tonight. It was a close match - the way a conference championship should be."
DGF played a scrappy defensive game - balls that should have dropped in games three and four didn't thanks to a strong back row defense.
"Our girls finally got frustrated as kills they thought we had never materialized as back row player Kim Brinkman made some amazing digs to keep rallies going, eventually ending up in DGF's favor. I thought we were the better team; DGF just played the better match."
DGFs strong service game kept Perham's offense on their heels most of the night.
Perham falls to 14-10 overall.
"We like the way things are going. Our serving game is getting strong. We're getting more aces than serving errors. Kelli Meehl has really stepped up and become an elite server for us."
Volleyball results
DGF at Perham, Thursday, October 14.
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Rebels 3, Yellowjackets 1
(25-21, 16-25, 21-25, 21-25)
Kills: Katrina Moenkedick 11, Brooke Mickelson 10, Kelli Meehl 5, Lexy Karvonen 4, Miranda Lockhart, Kaylan Huber 1, Becky Stoll 1;
Digs: Kaylan Huber 24, Mickelson 20, Stoll 13, Meehl 10, Moenkedick 8;
Blocks: Meehl, Moenkedick 3;
Aces: Huber 4, Mary Guck, Meehl, Moenkedick 1;
Assists: Guck 15, Moenkedick 7, Rayna Jacobson 2.
