BLASTING THE BLOCK — Fairmont outside hitter Natalie Tonne (3) hammers a spike over the block set by Waseca’s Audrey Williams (1) during Big South Conference volleyball action Monday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. The Cardinals’ Cassidy Schultz (9) watches the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Bryn Miller, Brittney Mosloski and Cassidy Schultz heeded the positive input from Fairmont head volleyball coach Kim Breamer during a timeout, with the home team trailing 11-5 in Game 5 Monday night at Cardinal Gym.

Waseca’s 6-foot-2 sophomore middle hitter Kloe Wadd, however, prevented the Cardinals from completing their cardiac comeback during the fifth and final game’s late stages.

Wadd produced two blocks and four kills, including a pair of critical spikes for sideouts, in her seasonal debut to help the visiting Bluejays survive the Cardinals’ late rallies, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 17-15, during Big South Conference action in Fairmont.

“Our girls know how to pick it (the pace) up when we’re behind,” said Breamer. “We came back from down 1-0 and 2-1 in games, and then down 0-5 and 5-11 in Game 5 to come within two points tonight.

“We have the drive, and we’re getting closer to our first win and it’s going to happen.”

Waseca defensive specialist Haylee Sommers captured the early Game 5 momentum by reeling off five consecutive points from the service line, with middle hitter Avery Madsen pounding down two of her match-best 18 kills to trigger the offensive surge.

But Mosloski and teammate Natalie Tonne combined to reject the Bluejays’ ensuing overpass to the hardwood court for a clutch sideout on the heels of Breamer’s timeout.

A rare Waseca service error later rotated Jaya Johnson to the serving area for Fairmont and the junior celebrated her birthday by inching the Cardinals within 7-5 as Mosloski unleashed a frontline blast off one of setter Sabrina Segar’s 22 assists to highlight the comeback run.

Madsen answered by cranking one of Sophie Potter’s 18 set assists through Fairmont’s late-arriving block to place the serve in her own hands. Madsen utilized a topspin serve to earn an ace before Camryn McQuery tallied a kill and Wadd connected on a echoing block for an 11-5 edge.

“We are NOT out of this game,” Breamer said during the ensuing timeout.

Miller responded by drilling the first of her four kills in Game 5 for a sideout before generating two more to serve as the offensive catalyst behind Mosloski’s tying five-point service stint. Maddy Schwieger’s power tip off a Segar set and Schultz’s resounding rejection combined with one of her 15 kills capped the comeback run.

Wadd, however, uncorked an ace drive before blistering a quick spike-winner off a Cardinal overpass hovering near the net to put the Bluejays ahead 13-11.

Mosloski hammered one of her team-best 16 kills from the back row off a precision set from Segar to regain serve. Schwieger inched Fairmont to a 14-13 lead, with Miller batting down a Waseca spike along the left outside hitting spot.

Waseca head coach Jolene Hauger called timeout to regroup her lineup and outside hitter Audrey Williams responded with an ace kill off a Potter set to knot the game at 14-all. Williams and Wadd combined on a double-block, but a Waseca hitting error extended Game 5 at 15-all.

Wadd drilled another sideout drive to return serve to Waseca and Jadyn Olsem served up the game- and match-winning point.

Wadd finished with 10 kills and four blocks during Games 3-5 after sitting out the first two varsity games.

“I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in both of my knees, so I haven’t been able to play until tonight,” said Wadd. “I tore one early in the summer playing basketball, and then the other one during the early stages of the volleyball season.

“I’ve been practicing for about a week, and got the clearance to play tonight.”

Megan Nelson distributed 22 set assists for the Bluejays, while Sommers connected on 24 of 24 serves for 17 points. Williams and McQuery added nine kills apiece to Madsen’s match-best 18.

Mosloski, Schultz and Tonne pounded out 16, 15 and 12 kills, respectively, to pace a balanced Fairmont hitting attack, while Miller contributed seven spike-winners. Segar and Kaitlyn Scott each doled out 18 set assists for the Cardinals.

Fairmont (0-4) travels to New Ulm on Friday night, while Waseca (3-4) hits the road to St. James on Thursday night.