It was an instant classic. Algona came in with a 21-18 overall match record with a youthful squad that had gotten enormous contributions from four freshmen throughout the 2016 season.
Humboldt was ranked eighth in the final Class 3A rankings with a sparkling 31-1 record and was led by six experienced seniors and a pair of juniors.
After the smoke cleared from a great match, experience outlasted youth as Humboldt rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the fifth and final set to edge the red-and-black in a very entertaining high school volleyball match.
The Class 3A regional opening volleyball match between the two North Central Conference rivals was played on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Humboldt in front of huge crowd that got their money’s worth.
Game one saw the Bulldogs score the first two points of the match and grab an early 4-1 advantage but the Wildcats fought back to deadlock the set at 5-5 and 6-6 and took their first lead at 7-6.
For more on this story, read the Oct. 27 issue of Algona Upper Des Moines.