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Jaguars outspike Mavericks in 4 games

VIEW TO A KILL — Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman middle hitter Michaelah Petrowiak (25) takes a set from teammate Ella Nagorske (far left) and drills a kill over Martin County West defenders Lucy Larson (1) and Gabby Lange (13) during Valley Conference volleyball action Thursday night in Northrop. The Jaguars’ Mallery Geistfeld (29) and Johnnie Zaharia (5) watch the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

NORTHROP — Paul Steinhaus and his Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman volleyball coaching staff made the proper adjustments from the Jaguars’ season-opening loss to Nicollet in four games Tuesday night to Thursday night’s 3-1 Valley Conference triumph over Martin County West.

Setter Ella Nagorske distributed a match-best 23 assists, middle hitter Michaelah Petrowiak drilled a match-high 11 kills, while Kambria Steinhaus and Johnnie Zaharia combined for 25 service points to put pounce in the Jaguars’ 25-19, 25-18, 18-25, 25-18 decision over the visiting Mavericks in Northrop.

“I thought we (coaches) did a better job of putting our players in the right positions where they moved in synchronization on the floor better tonight,” said Paul Steinhaus. “We looked more cohesive in our rotations, and that allowed us to get off to an improved start in the match.”

Josie Clow did exactly that, reeling off six consecutive service points from the Jaguars’ opening rotation in Game 1, with Petrowiak and Nagorske working in unison to produce four kills during the scoring sequence.

After both teams traded short point-producing runs, eighth-grade setter Emily Anderson, outside spiker Lucy Larson and the Mavericks eventually chipped away at the Jaguars’ lead to close the gap to 18-17.

Anderson’s ace tip on a Jaguar overpass too close to the net rotated Larson to the service line for MCW. Larson lined home three points in a row, but Petrowiak’s rejection halted the Mavericks’ run.

Zaharia, who went 15 of 18 at the line, gave the Jaguars breathing room at 21-17 with two of her dozen points before Kambria Steinhaus served out the Game 1 win. Steinhaus, who went 20 of 20 at the line, generated three of her match-best 13 points to seal the win. Katelyn Diegnau, who supplied seven kills, cashed in a Nagorske set assist for the game-clincher.

Clow and Steinhaus then combined for seven service points from the first two rotations in Game 2 to build a 9-1 Jaguars’ margin.

Emily Anderson transitioned from setter to hitter and belted three kills down the stretch off set assists from Grace Bicknase, but the Mavericks could not get closer than six at 22-16.

The Jaguars capitalized on back-to-back MCW hitting and passing errors to close out the 25-18 Game 2 win.

The two Valley Conference lineups exchanged solo points to 10-all in Game 3 before Zaharia reeled off four service tallies, but the Jaguars could not maintain the momentum.

Larson smacked one of her seven kills down the line for a key sideout, with MCW trailing 15-12. Katie Hummel served up four unanswered points to eventual draw the Mavericks even at 16-all.

Taylor Elliott later converted one of Emily Anderson’s team-best 10 set assists for a pivotal sideout spike at 23-18 before MCW teammate Emily Dunlop served back-to-back aces to seal a 25-18 Game 3 win.

Trailing 13-12 in Game 4, Kambria Steinhaus’ five-point service stint shifted the match’s momentum back to the Jaguars at 18-12. Diegnau and Emily Stauter combined to supply the frontrow firepower during the run.

Clow and Diegnau contributed two vital kills apiece down the stretch to eventually swing a 24-18 lead to the Jaguars. Mallery Geistfeld converted another Nagorske set assist into the 25th point of Game 4 via a kill to ice the home team’s 3-1 triumph.

Clow went 14 of 15 serving for nine points and added six kills for the Jaguars, while Gabby Lange topped all players by notching eight blocks to pace the Mavericks’ defense. Bicknase doled out eight set assists, Emily Anderson posted seven kills, while Dunlop chipped in four kills and three blocks.

The Jaguars (1-1) travel to Mankato Loyola on Monday night, while the Mavericks (0-1) play host to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Trimont.

St. James Area 3, Fairmont 1 — The Saints bounced back from a 25-22 Game 1 loss to the visiting Cardinals with three consecutive game wins of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-22 to garner the Big South Conference triumph Thursday night in St. James.

Natalie Tonne and Bryn Miller each pounded out eight kills to top Fairmont’s seasonal debut, while Brittney Mosloski supplied seven kills to complement 16-for-17 serving with a pair of aces.

Sabrina Segar distributed 15 set assists for the Cardinals and connected on 18 of 18 serves for one ace, while Kaitlyn Scott doled out 10 set assists.

Cassidy Schultz delivered four kills, four solo blocks and eight digs to go with 9-for-10 serving and two aces for the red-and-white, Jaya Johnson went 17 of 19 at the line for three aces, Maddy Schwieger completed 12 of 14 serves, while Madysen Allen went 8 of 9 serving.

Fairmont (0-1) plays host to Blue Earth Area on Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym.

Fairmont defeated St. James Area, 27-25, 16-25, 15-6, during B-squad action Thursday night in St. James.

Jazlyn Geerdes supplied three kills and three and a half blocks to complement 5-for-5 serving for the Cardinals, while Kynlie Anderson connected on 8 of 8 serves for an ace. Hadley Artz supplied three kills and four digs to go with 6-for-7 serving for Fairmont (1-0).

St. James Area edged Fairmont, 20-25, 25-22, 16-14, during C-squad action Thursday in St. James.

Alexa Bush smacked down five kills for the Cardinals (0-1), Grace Pendergast distributed seven set assists, Nevaeh Rahm delivered 25 digs, while Mireya Schmidt and Pendergast each served up one ace.

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