The East Ridge High School girls volleyball team finished in third place in the MSHSL Class AAAA state tournament. The Raptors beat Roseville for the second time this season with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 victory on Saturday. Tournament notes state that senior defensive specialist Katrien Van Heyst and sophomore middle blocker Lauren Bunge had 11 kills each for the Raptors (26-7), who also defeated the Raiders (27-7) during the Suburban East Conference season.

In the semifinal on Thursday, Champlin Park beat East Ridge 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12). Tournament notes report: “Senior Carly Gilk piled up 38 kills and classmate Reese Axness compiled 57 assists as No. 2 seed Champlin Park rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the match to advance. Gilk’s kill in the fourth set held off an East Ridge rally to force a decisive race to 15, then the Rebels scored the final four points of the fifth set. Senior Kathryn Adler added 22 kills for the winners. Senior Paige Belfield led East Ridge with 13.”

In the quarterfinal on Wednesday, East Ridge jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the opening set, setting the tone for a match in which they never trailed. Tournament notes state the Raptors produced eight service aces and compiled a .365 attack percentage with a balanced squad. Freshman Brynlee Opland and seniors Adaora Zebulun and Paige Belfield finished with 10 kills apiece while senior Alexis Opland dished 34 assists. Senior Hannah Jackson led the Skippers with 10 kills.

Two Raptors made the Class AAAA all-tournament team: Alexis Opland and Adaora Zebulun.