CLOQUET — Emma Warnygora reaches into her bag and grabs a pack of gum moments before her Lumberjacks run out of the locker room and onto the court for warm-ups.

Cloquet’s senior setter blows bubbles and continues chewing her first piece as she gets loose ahead of game time. It’s a pregame ritual that dates back to her sophomore year when she made her varsity debut for the program.

“It was something for my nerves that first year,” Warnygora said. “My dad always gets the gum for me. I put my first piece in when I’m in the locker room and then I spit it out before the game and start fresh. If we lose a set, that piece is gone.”

Warnygora didn’t need to go beyond her initial two pieces Thursday evening, as Cloquet (9-8) swept Duluth Denfeld (25-7, 25-14, 25-8) on senior night. The Lumberjac

See Full Page