After overcoming a 13-3 deficit, the B-Squad volleyball girls beat visiting New Ulm Cathedral in game one, gained a sizeable lead early but ultimately fell in game two before winning the rubber game for a 2-1 match victory in their season opener on Thursday.
Delaney Thompson’s kill was the first point in game three. The Greyhounds hit the ball into the net on the next point but tied the contest 2-2 after a Clipper error and a kill.
From there, 5-9 junior Addi Holden (above) went to work with a pair of kills and an ace tip, that, with a Taylor McCabe kill in the mix, put the Clipper in front 5-3.
“Addi had a real good match,” said coach Ellie Johnson.
With kills by McCabe and Thompson, an ace tip off the fingers of Lily Lamont, an ace push from Mariah McCabe and a Kiera Schipper ace block, the Clippers were comfortably in front 12-6.
Mariah McCabe served an ace for the last Clipper winner. Cathedral scored twice on Clipper errors, but the game ended 15-8 when on a match-point serve that caromed into the netting.
Both teams got off to a shaky start in game one. The Clippers allowed a serve to land unattended, and Cathedral went in front 5-3.
Mariah McCabe responded with a kill, but from there, the Greyhounds rallied for eight-straight points with half of them from winners and the other four from Clipper hits that sailed out of bounds. A serve into the net finally halted the run, and the Clipper lagged 13-5.
But starting with a Lacey McCabe kill, the Clippers got their game on and won 14 of the next 19 points. Winners came from a Lamont ace block, a Holden kill and a Mariah McCabe ace tip.
On a Cathedral hit out of bounds, the game tied 20-20. After a pair of errant hits, the Clippers trailed 22-20. Cathedral errored twice though, and Lacey McCabe came up with back-to-back kills to put her team up 24-22.
Cleveland could not keep their hits in bounds on the next two points, but Cathedral stepped over the middle line, and Mariah McCabe served up an ace that glanced off a back row player for a 26-24 Clipper triumph.
With two NUC errors and Lamont service ace, the Clippers were up 3-0 in game two. With a pair of kills by Holden, a kill from Lacey McCabe and Schipper and ace serves from Schipper and Thompson, the Clippers had a comfortable 13-3 lead.
But taking advantage of six Clipper errors, the Greyhounds knotted the game at 13. When Cathedral watched an over fall to the floor, the Clippers regained the lead but then errored on the next three points to trail 16-14.
Lacey McCabe came up with a kill, Lamont served up an ace, and Cathedral errored twice for an two put the Clippers in front 18-16, but the Greyhounds scored the next two points on a kill and a Clipper hit out of bounds.
Holden’s kill put the Clippers back up top, but that was it for Clipper scoring. The net grabbed the next three Clipper hits. With an ace serve, an ace tip and another Clipper hit into the net, the Greyhounds were up 24-19 before tipping the ball near the line to complete a seven-point run for the victory.
Holden ended the night with five kills. Taylor McCabe and Lacey McCabe each had three kills as did Thompson.
The B Clippers return to action on Tuesday when they road trip to Janesville.
Malie Meissner on the attack.
Lily Lamont and Kiera Schipper throw a block party.
Kiera Schipper swings for a hit.
Lacey McCabe follows through on a hit.
Mariah McCabe and Taylor McCabe team up in the back row.