Prep athletes of the week: Prior Lake tennis standout aims at the champs

Growing up playing tennis in youth tournaments as well as in high school, Crowell always won more than she lost. But there was one player she could never figure out: Edina's Sophia Reddy.

"She's been a big rival ever since we were 12," Crowell said. "I never could beat her."

Until last Tuesday, that is.

Crowell, a junior, bounced back from a first set loss to defeat Reddy, who was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A at the time, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Crowell's signature career victory also was the capstone on Prior Lake's 5-2 victory over the 18-time defending Class 2A champions.

"I went in thinking I had nothing to lose," she said.

Crowell and her teammates added victories over two of the top teams in South Dakota, Rapid City and Sioux Falls O'Gorman Saturday, but the victory over Reddy and Edina was still fresh.

"This is what we've been trying to do: Prove we can beat them," she said. "I think it's a springboard for the rest of our season. We can compete with them. We can go all the way."

The junior forward packed a season's worth of offense in three Northwest Suburban Conference victories last week. He scored five goals in a 5-1 victory over Elk River, a goal and two assists in a 3-1 triumph over Centennial and a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Blaine.

ERIN FALLERT

The junior outside hitter helped the Beacons to a 4-2 record and second place in Aerie Challenge. In six matches, she had 76 kills, a .232 hitting percentage, 63 digs, 10 service aces and served 21 consecutive points in a victory over St. Agnes.

Beginning her third year as a starter, the junior setter broke the school's career set assist record while leading the Redhawks to victories over Providence Academy and St. Paul Academy. She chalked up 125 assists, giving her 1,260 for her career. She added 56 digs, 21 kills and six blocks.

The senior libero was a defensive stalwart in victories over Hopkins and Rosemount. Kauth, who recently broke the state record for digs, collected 61 more in the two matches, an average of 7.63 digs per set, and had a .960 serve percentage.

The senior cornerback has clearly honed his ball-hawking skills this season. He intercepted three passes, returning one of them 74 yards for a touchdown, in a 20-7 victory over Henry Sibley. He has seven interceptions in four games.

The uber-athletic Weston, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound athlete who committed to Northern Iowa before the season, had a 69-yard touchdown reception and returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in a 37-12 victory over Elk River last Friday.

JIM PAULSEN

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