FAIRMONT — Fairmont head volleyball coach Kim Breamer and her Cardinal coaching staff knew what to expect of Waseca’s 6-foot hitting tandem of Lexi Herman and Rachel Breck from the two teams’ first Big South clash on Aug. 27.

“We prepared for those two (Herman and Breck) in practice, and were in the right places to defend, but they simply beat us up front tonight,” said Breamer.

Breck produced a rare double-double of a match-best 11 blocks to complement 10 kills, while Herman pounded down a match-high 11 kills to power the Bluejays to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-20 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night in Fairmont.

“On a positive note, we played them much closer tonight than we did the first time in Waseca,” said Breamer, whose lineup lost a 25-8, 25-21, 25-8 decision during its initial encounter with Waseca nearly a month ago. “We’re continuing to show signs of improvement, so now we need to keep working hard in practice and in matches.”

Natalie Tonne delivered one of her three blocks to draw the Cardinals within 13-9 in Game 1, but Bluejays’ outside spiker Breanna Conway smacked one of setter Megan Nelson’s 23 assists for a pivotal sideout kill.

Breck then stonewalled Fairmont’s frontline hitters by recording two blocks and converted a Sophie Potter set for a kill to create separation on the scoreboard at 17-9.

Sophie Johnson later served three consecutive points to inch the Cardinals within 19-13 before Breck utilized all 72 inches of her height to reel off three consecutive points above the net, including two rejections, to shift a 22-13 edge to Waseca.

Cassidy Schultz drilled two of her team-best seven kills off set assists from Sabrina Segar to extended Game 1 to 23-17 before Herman obliterated a Nelson set for a cross-court stinger and 24-17 lead. Libero Eliza Harguth served out the final point of the opener.

Herman then utilized her lethal jump-serve to reel off four unanswered points to build an early 6-1 lead in Game 2.

Breck and Herman later exchanged short blasts with Fairmont’s Cambrie Anderson and Tonne until Segar rotated to the service area a second time, trailing 16-10.

Segar whittled the Cardinals’ deficit to three as Schultz recorded a block and a kill to fuel the three-point run before Conway retaliated with a sideout kill for the Bluejays.

Breck dominated the airspace above the net down the stretch, chalking up three kills and one block as Brooke Hayes served out the final three points of Waseca’s 25-18 Game 2 win.

Schultz’s tip over the great defensive wall of Breck actually swung Game 3’s momentum in the Cardinals’ direction, with the home team trailing 12-9.

Cambrie Anderson assembled a four-point service run to stake Fairmont to its first lead as Schultz pounded out two blocks and a kill to complement Tonne’s kill off a Segar set.

Potter’s ace drive off Nelson’s dig-turned-set proved clutch for Waseca as Breck and Herman slowly helped the Bluejays pull away for a 25-20 Game 3 win.

Schultz tallied four blocks to complement her seven kills for Fairmont, Segar doled out 15 set assists, while Bryn Miller chipped in four kills.

Fairmont (3-10) plays host to Martin County West at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at Cardinal Gym. Waseca (6-4) is idle until traveling to St. Peter on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Waseca edged Fairmont in B-squad action, 25-20, 25-22, 13-15, Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym.

Brittney Mosloski generated 10 kills to top the Cardinals’ effort, Emily Frank chipped in five kills, while Kynlie Anderson topped the home team’s point production from the service area.

Fairmont swept three games from Waseca, 25-8, 25-22 and 25-20, during C-squad action Tuesday night in Fairmont.

Carlee Graham produced 12 ace serves for the Cardinals, Johanna Petschke went 9-for-9 serving, while Hadley Artz delivered four kills to complement 7-for-7 serving.

Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 3, Madelia 0 — Lizzie Oothoudt slammed nine kills and teammate Michaelah Petrowiak pounded eight more as the Jaguars rolled to a 25-23, 25-12, 25-19 Valley Conference sweep over the Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Northrop.

Kambria Steinhaus generated nine ace serves and made 18 digs for the Jaguars, while Lydia Steinhaus distributed 24 set assists and cranked five kills.

The Jaguars (6-9, 4-1 Valley) travel to Nicollet on Thursday night for a conference match.

Martin County West 3, Mankato Loyola 1 — Gabby Lange hammered 10 kills and teammate Shaylynn Anderson distributed 14 set assists to complement 14 digs to steer the Mavericks to a 26-24, 25-6, 14-25, 25-8 victory over the Crusaders during Valley Conference action Tuesday night in Mankato.

Logan Kosbab went 17-for-17 serving to generate 11 points, smacked six kills and dug up 14 opposing spikes for MCW, while Jenna Clow served at a 14-for-14 clip to tally 13 points to go with 25 digs.

Emily Dunlop served up five aces behind an 18-for-19 performance for the Mavericks to go with four kills, while Taylor Elliott generated 14 points, including six aces, on 15-for-18 serving.

Bella Bicknase doled out 14 set assists and went 12-for-14 serving with nine points for MCW, Olivia Anderson and Sami Meyer pounded out seven kills each, while Makena Larson chipped in four spike-winners.

Martin County West (4-12) travels to Fairmont on Thursday night.

New Ulm 3, Blue Earth Area 0 — The Eagles soared to a three-game Big South sweep over the Bucs, 25-15, 25-8, 25-19, Tuesday night in New Ulm.

Liz Beeler distributed 11 set assists, made eight digs and scored three points on 7-for-8 serving to top Blue Earth Area, while Brita Hougen supplied three kills and six digs.

Heidi Herrmann smacked four kills and blocked three shots, while Alicia Machacek tallied three kills and three blocks for the Bucs.

Eloise Blair made 14 digs, Miya Gustafson and Mari Vargas chipped in six digs apiece, with Gustafson also connecting on 10 of 11 serves for five points.

Natalie Huse added a 7-for-7 serving effort with three points for Blue Earth Area (0-14, 0-6 Big South) which plays host to St. Peter on Thursday night.

Lake Mills 3, North Union 0 — The Bulldogs rumbled to a 25-8, 25-13, 25-17 Top of Iowa Conference sweep over the Warriors on Tuesday night in Lake Mills, Iowa.

Shayla Reese drilled four kills to top North Union’s frontline attack, while Anna Longhenry supplied three spike-winners.

Setter Lily Henderson doled out 12 assists, while May Laverty went 8 of 9 from the service area for the Warriors. Chloe Lofstrom and Olivia Von Bank each went 7 of 7 serving, while Carys Fuller and Ella Hagebock were 5-for-5 apiece at the line.

North Union (2-20) plays host to Eagle Grove next Tuesday night in Armstrong.