With strong hitting in the middle and big blocks across the net, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa downed the Clipper girls 3-1 in the first round of the state volleyball tournament yesterday (Thursday) at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
The Clippers fell in the first game 25-22, came back to win the second 26-24, but, with the Jaguars exploiting strengths and weakness, fell hard 25-15 and 25-17.
“Their role players stepped up and played really well,” said head coach Dave Nixon.
Now in the consolation bracket, the Clippers will take on North Woods at 1:00 today in an elimination match. Top seeded Mayer Lutheran swept last ranked North Woods.
On the other side of the bracket, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton swept seventh-seeded Nevis while sixth-ranked Ada-Borup-West upset third-seeded Fillmore Central 3-1.
The winner of Cleveland vs North Woods takes on the winner of Nevis and Fillmore Central tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.
With three Taylor McCabe kills, a Maile Meissner ace block and a Jocelyn Kortuem ace tip, the Clippers were off to a 6-start in game, but the Jaguars claimed the next five points before Kortuem pushed over a winner.
After a kill and a Clipper error, the Jaguars went up 17-15 and never trailed. With a McCabe deep hit that caught the back line, the Clippers pulled within two, 24-22, but the game ended on a kill.
The Clippers led early in game two and trailed. It looked like they might melt down late when, in succession, they let a Jaguar ace tip drop and then an ace serve. With the kill that followed, the Jaguars were within a point, 22-21.
Melia Sathoff swung a kill, but the Jaguars responded with a pair of kills to deadlock the gamed at 23. McCabe, swung for a kill, but the Jaguars put up an ace block for a 24-24 stalemate. But with a Meissner ace over followed by a Jaguar hit into the net, the Clippers hung on for the victory.
But the Jaguars came back strong in game three to lead 6-1 and never looked back. The game ended on a Clipper hit out of bounds.
When game four came around, they had the Clippers in their back pocket early with a mix of offense that produced an eight-point run. The Clippers couldn’t find a formula to slow it down and trailed 13-3.
Later, the Clippers claimed seven , of eight points to pull within three, 19-13, but Belgrade never really lost control before a kill put the explanation mark on their victory.
Other than Mayer Lutheran, the Clippers and North Woods have not played a team in common this season.
The pep band played before and after the match and between games as well.
The Clippers brought a sizeable crowd.
Amelia Baker, Paisley Janssen, Mattea Grandaw and Sayjon Grandaw were hoping the fans would give the Clippers a little push.