MOORHEAD — Up 21-15 and on the verge of a straight-sets victory, the Hawley-heavy crowd inside the Moorhead High School gymnasium roared to life Saturday during a brief delay to work out a rotation issue with Wadena-Deer Creek.

As one official conversed with Wolverines coach Courtney Tumberg, the Nuggets' faithful rose to their feet and collectively increased the noise level in the gym to the loudest it had been all night.

Hawley players, coaches, students and fans could sense that they were on the verge of returning to the Minnesota Class 2A volleyball state tournament with the chance to defend their 2024 title.

When senior outside hitter McKenna Walker threw down the final kill — her last of nine — the Nuggets became Section 8-2A champions for the second year in a row.

"I just wanted

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