While the Clippers beat visiting New Ulm Cathedral for the third time this year on Monday during the first round of the subsection tournament, the Greyhounds made for a more competitive match than the third-seeded Clippers usually get for their first outing of post-season play.
They will need it since they will be the underdog when they take on second-ranked BOLD at 7:45 in Arlington on Thursday.
“I think it will be good for us having to have played New Ulm Cathedral,” said head coach Dave Nixon. “They play hard. They’re scrappy. Nothing’s going to be easy the whole time in the playoffs. But I’d rather have that because you can’t coast.”
Although errors kept the Greyhounds from being competitive in the first two games, they fought hard in game three, where they got a big lead, the Clippers had to battle back, but the Greyhounds didn’t go away.
On the attack early in game three, the Greyhounds went in front 3-2 and then extended their lead 8-3 after a five-point spurt that included one winner and four Clipper mistakes.
After an Ava Hahn kill and ace blocks by Sophie Perkins and Laci Hollerich, the Clippers pulled within one, 9-8.
The Clippers exchanged a pair of kills, theirs coming off the palms of Melia Sathoff and Ava Hahn, before they finally tied the game at 11 when Cathedral got flagged for a carry violation. Continuing a six-point run, Hahn thundered a pair of kills, and the Clippers were in front 15-11.
Trailing 20-16, the Greyhounds took advantage of a kill and a pair of Clipper errors to pull within two, 21-19, but Sathoff scored on a pair of attacks, Ava Hahn’s kill won a contested Clipper point 24, and the game ended 25-19 on a NUC hit past the boarder.
The Clippers won game one 15-14. A Sathoff kill was the first Clipper point. With an Ava Hahn kill, a Greta Hahn ace serve, a Hollerich ace push to an empty slot and an Ava Hahn block and then a cross-court kill, the Clippers led 7-3 and never glanced backwards.
Down the stretch, Perkins and Sathoff each launched a kill, and the game ended when Cathedral’s hit flew past the boundary line.
The Clippers scored on six Greyhound errors before their first winner, a Hollerich ace block that put them in front 6-3. With a pair of Ava Hahn ace serves that the net helped drop down and a Jocelyn Bartell kill in the mix, the Clippers went on a six-point run for a 13-4 lead. A Perkins kill ended the game 25-15.
Ava Hahn led the attack squad with 16 kills. She also had eight digs. Sathoff swatted eight kills, assisted on two ace blocks and scooped three digs. Hollerich and Perkins each had four kills, and Bartell had three kills and one block assist.
Greta Hahn set up 29 points and excavated five digs. Delaney Thompson had 17 digs.
Hollerich had three digs and two block assists. Perkins and Chloe Anderson each had six digs. Mariah McCabe pulled up a pair of digs. Perkins had one block assist.
Savannah Meyer had 13 digs and was 12 for 12 in serving with one ace. Greta Hahn was 11 for 11 with one ace. Sathoff was perfect in her 15 serves. Ava Hahn racked up three service aces.
On the other side of the north subsection, top-seeded Mayer Lutheran will take on fourth-ranked Buffalo Lake-Hector Stewart. That will be the 6:00 pm game in Arlington. BLHS beat Cedar Mountain while Mayer topped GFW.
In the south subsection, both Sleepy Eyes emerged. SESM will take on Madelia in the first game in St. Peter on Thursday while SE Public will play USC in the second game.
Above: Jocelyn Bartell follows through on a block.
Melia Sathoff joins hands for a bump.
Ava Hahn splits the uprights.
Greta Hahn bumps a set.
Sophie Perkins watches her hit glide over a pair of NUC blockers.
This Laci Hollerich hit went down inside the line for a point.
Senior players and classmates unite after construction night. They are, from L-R, front row: Ellie Dylla, Greta Hahn, Chloe Anderson, Mariah McCabe, Addie Gibeau, Makenna Mueller and Olivia Shouler. Back row: Nathan Strobel, Jorden Rossow, Adam Seeman, Brady Bostic, Carter Barto, Cameron Leighter, Laci Hollerich, Madison Peterson, Cassandra Connor and Lilly Lamont.
Pep band members Cameron Leighter, Aiden Domras, Caleb Connor and Mason Kluntz.
Pep band members Jorden Rossow, Bode Bartell, Nathan Strobel and Noah Hermel.