NORTHROP — The Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman Jaguars volleyball team showed its youth against the Sleepy Eye Public Indians, but had enough senior leadership to make up for it.

Senior defensive specialist Alex Schuder smacked down the match-winning kill to lead the Jaguars to a 3-2 win during their season home opener on Thursday night in Northrop.

“(It was a) great experience for our new team,” Jaguars head coach Paul Steinhaus said. “We maximized our play, not necessarily on purpose, but we got a chance to get a lot of contacts with some good competition. What more do you want at the start of the season?”

The Jaguars opened up the match with a 25-12 win before falling in the next two games, 25-22 and 25-20. The home team then evened the match with a 25-20 Game 4 win, giving way to a fifth game.

Sophomore setter Lydia Steinhaus served the Jaguars to three points in Game 5, which included an ace serve and an assist to senior outside hitter Marissa Steinhaus for the kill. An error turned the ball over to the Indians, and junior setter Cassidy Hoffmann delivered one of her 20 set assists to senior middle hitter Mya Ibberson for a point.

Hoffmann later connected with senior outside hitter Madi Heiderscheidt twice and a Jaguars error allowed the Indians a 10-8 lead.

Jaguars senior middle hitter Emma Becker got a crucial sideout block before nailing an ace serve to knot the game at 10. The dueling teams tied again at 13 when junior middle hitter Lydia Studer’s block allowed the Jaguars the lead, giving way to Schuder’s kill for the victory.

“That (kill) was huge. I think the momentum shift there happened a little bit with Lydia Studer making the block,” Steinhaus said. “To come back with that swing in a spot that she’s (Schuder) probably not best slated into, she’s proven she can play that, and that adds to our depth and experience. … She came out big for us.”

Lydia Steinhaus also served the Jaguars to six points to start the first game of the match as they marked an 11-2 lead before Indians head coach Sydney Geiger called for a timeout.

The Jaguars later produced a 4-0 run, but a miscue turned the ball back over to the visitors. Another error and one of Ibberson’s 17 kills halved the Indians’ deficit, 22-11. However, an out-of-bounds serve fom Ibberson gave the Jaguars the ultimate 25-12 game win.

The Indians turned the tables on the Jaguars, igniting a 5-0 lead in Game 2. The team continued to pile on to the lead, going up 15-7 on the strength of senior Jenna Zuhlsdorf’s 4-for-5 mark at the serving line.

The Jaguars attempted to erase the deficit, but couldn’t overcome it, falling 25-22 for a 1-1 match.

During Game 3, the Indians manufactured a 9-4 lead via back-to-back kills from senior right-side hitter Mariah Miller and Heiderscheidt during a 4-0 run. The Indians committed two errors before bouncing back with another 4-0 run. Heiderscheidt started the run with the assist from Hoffmann.

The Jaguars again attempted to whittle away at the Indians’ deficit, but an error on a block put the Indians up, 2-1.

Marissa Steinhaus reeled off six serves for five points to open up the fourth game. Despite falling behind early, the Indian stayed within striking distance until the Jaguars went on a 5-0 run.

The team used Zuhlsdorf’s netted serve and an Indians’ error as the catalyst. Studer went up for a block and the Indians couldn’t return Lydia Steinhaus’ serve to get the Jaguars at game point, 24-20.

The Indians eked out three points, but Heiderscheidt’s third serve was short as the Jaguars took the game, 25-20.

“Outside of the first game, we didn’t really have good buffers or a lead, so we had to make sure we were focused in and the kids came in and did a nice job,” Paul Steinhaus said.

Lydia Steinhaus went 28-for-33 at the service line for 22 points with 10 set assists for the Jaguars’ lineup, while sbiling Marissa Steinhaus recorded 15 points on 22-for-24 serving.

Becker contributed seven kills and two blocks to the team’s winning effort, and Studer finished the match with five kills and four blocks.

Moving forward, Paul Steinhaus believes that the team’s defense is going to be key this season.

“I don’t know if we’re going to be an offensive powerhouse … but our defense can keep us in games to where if we can get a good set and get a good look for our hitters, we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” he said.

Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman (1-0) plays at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Monday night in Sleepy Eye.