Notables
-CSS wins 51st match in a row vs. Northland
-CSS hasn't lost to Northland since 1997
-CSS first loss to BLC since 2008
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The St. Scholastica volleyball team traveled across the bridge for the 2023 Subway Stinger Classic at the University of Wisconsin Superior. The Saints would face two old faces from their time in the UMAC, the Northland College LumberJills, which they would defeat 3-0, but fall to the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings 3-0.
For head coach Chelsea Meierotto, this would be her first match against her former school, as she coached the LumberJills for a total of four seasons.
CSS 3, NC 0
The first set would start out as a battle, as Northland scored the first point, and a
Natalie Yackley (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm HS) kill would secure the Saints' first point. This set would see a total of five lead changes, the Saints would see an early 5-0 run, but the LumberJills would tie the game up three times at 8, 14, and 17. The Saints would be able to finish as they would take set one 25-20.
Set two would see the teams trade leads early on once again, a block by
Ava Swangstue (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River HS) and
Delaney Schaeffer (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS) would allow the Saints to catch up as they were only down 6-5 and would score 4 more points in a row. The Saints would slowly start to chip away and grab the second set 25-17.
The third and final set wouldn't come easy for CSS, this set had eight lead changes. Northland was up 9-6, until Yackley got her team back in the game with another kill. With the game at 16 apiece, the Saints would pick up some momentum and go on a 7-2 run, which would end on a service ace by
Mikala Peterson (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) and the Saints would capture their second win on the season.
Game One Top Performers
Swangstue would collect 11 kills, Schaeffer would record three blocks, and
Olivia Bauer (Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) would have 23 digs and
Bryn Ziegler (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS) would manage 21.
CSS 0, BLC 3
Similar to last week's day one of a tournament, the Saints would start strong with a victory versus their first team and fall to their second team. The Vikings would heat up quickly and jump out to a 4-0 advantage. With the score 17-10, the Saints would get some much needed points as they would score five straight to be only down 15-17. Bethany Lutheran would then go on a 7-0 run to take the first set 25-16.
Set two would see a more competitive Saints team as they go back and forth with the Vikings. Tying at 1, 3, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Peterson would score to see the Saints at 18 to the Vikings 20, but once again the foes would capitalize on some kills and take the second set 25-22.
The third set was another battle, the Saints would start early with a 5-0 run and lead 7-5. The Saints would maintain their advantage as
Grace Myhre (Aberdeen, S.D./Aberdeen Central HS) secured a kill to have her team leading 15-11. The Vikings wouldn't quit yet, they would go on two runs of their own to retake the lead and would now be up 23-19. CSS's three points would be enough to steal a set from the Vikings and they would take the final set 25-22.
Game Two Top Performers
Yackley and Swangstue would both lead the team with six kills each, Ziegler would record two service aces atop of 17 digs. Myhre would again lead the team in assists with 12.
Up Next
The Saints (2-3) will finish the tournament tomorrow against the hosts, the Yellowjackets (3-2) at 2 p.m.
