Photo by Don Borstad New Ulm Cathedral’s Shay Wilfert attacks the ball during the Tomahawk Conference volleyball game against Cedar Mountain on Tuesday at Cathedral High School.
NEW ULM — Cedar Mountain defeated New Ulm Cathedral 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 26-24 on Tuesday in Tomahawk Conference volleyball action.
Both teams entered the game with nearly identical records in both overall and conference play.
Their play on the court reflected that, and it was a real battle from start to finish. They fought straight on every play of every point of every set.
“It was a very exciting night.” Cedar Mountain head coach Beth Hill said. “Absolutely. It was a tough battle from both teams.”
Hill said playing in the Tomahawk Conference means every team has to be prepared to play every night.
There was a nine-point tie in the first set. Cathedral held the lead for about half the set. CM maintained the lead in the second half. Cedar Mountain’s Kendra Erickson’s two-handed tip tied the score at 22-22. Cathedral knocked the ball into the net, making it 23-22 for Cedar Mountain. Chloe Wilde and Haley Holler had double blocks at the net. A Cathedral defender tried to return the ball but was unable to do so.
The sets were also close. Cathedral took the lead midway through the set. Then a soft tip by the Greyhound front line made it 23-18 for the Greyhounds. Two plays later, Erickson set up a kill from Regin Kleinschmidt, cutting Cathedral’s lead to 23-21. A dig by Madeline Harla led to a kill by Kia Helgett, making it 24-21 for Cathedral. Cedar Mountain was unable to get the ball back, giving Cathedral a set.
The third set is “comfortable” One went to the Cougars as they took the lead early in the set and kept the Greyhounds at bay. Kenley Schiller’s dig and tip made it 23-19 for the Cougars. A Greyhound defender hit the ball wide and the Cougars came close to winning the set. Then Cathedral’s mistake at the net gave Cedar Mountain a set lead.
How would Cathedral react in a 2-on-2 set? That was the question set 4 answered.
Cathedral’s Jaylin Hartness hit the ball to Madeline Hara, who set up Hotbeck’s goal midway through the fourth. The play made it 14-10 for Cathedral. After Cedar Mountain took an 18-17 lead, Harla set up Margo Finstad, who got a kill to tie the score at 18-18. Cathedral held the lead until the ball went out of bounds. This made the score tied at 24-24.
Consecutive unforced errors by the Greyhounds gave the Cougars the final two points to take the set and the match.
“We have a lot of girls who have played varsity for many years.” Hill said. “I’m proud of their final poise and ability to make the big plays that led to the win.”
Aubrey Steffle had 14 digs and 12 kills for Cedar Mountain. Erickson had 27 set assists. Lauren Ballinger had 13 digs and Hollar had 11 digs.
Shay Wilfert had 12 kills, 12 digs and two blocks for Cathedral. Hotovec had nine kills and 21 digs, and Jaylin Hartness had 31 digs.
CM (15-6, 6-2) hosts Martin County West in its final regular season game on Tuesday. Springfield will host Cathedral (13-9, 3-4) on Friday.
