SET TO SPIKE — Members of the Fairmont Cardinal volleyball lineup opening the season by facing Windom Area in a Big South Conference Showcase match today at Marshall High School include, front row (l-r): Olivia Ortega, Ella Klunder, Mariah Moeller, Chantel Moeller, Anna Ehlert, Kynlie Anderson and Ellie Ortega. Back row: Makayla Javers, Bre Steuber, Corene Moeller, Jazlyn Geerdes, Brylee Miller, Grace Pendergast and head coach Kim Breamer. Not pictured: Mireya Schmidt. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — It’s year No. 4 for the Fairmont Cardinal volleyball program under head coach Kim Breamer.

“We don’t have a lot of returning players, but we do have a lot of players who are excited to learn, and that’s what I enjoy,” said Breamer.

The Cardinals start the season with a Big South Conference Showcase match against Windom Area today at Marshall High School.

“This will give us a good chance to see where we stand and give the girls a chance to play some matches,” Breamer said.

Breamer’s returning players are seniors Jazlyn Geerdes, Olivia Ortega, Kynlie Anderson, Grace Pendergast, Chantel Moeller and Corene Moeller, as well as freshman Brylee Miller.

Others on the varsity squad are seniors Anna Ehlert and Makayla Javers; juniors Ella Klunder and Mireya Schmidt; and sophomores Mariah Moeller, Bre Steuber and Ellie Ortega.

Geerdes, Anderson and Chantel Moeller will serve as the team captains in 2022.

Offensively last year, Olivia Ortega had a two-kill, nine-dig performance, and finished 8-for-9 serving with two aces, in the Cardinals’ win over Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at the Tri-City United Invite last season.

Anderson chipped in with a 17-set assist match and was 23-for-24 serving in a Cardinals’ loss to New Ulm.

“We want to work better as a team and see the second round of the section tournament,” Breamer said. “I want the girls to play to the best of their ability.”

Last season, the Cardinals finished 9-14 overall and 3-7 in the Big South Conference’s East Division.

St. Peter won the East Division at 10-0, followed by New Ulm at 8-2 and Waseca at 5-5. St. James Area tied with Fairmont at 3-7 and Blue Earth Area finished 1-9.

Marshall won the Big South West Division at 6-0 and in the conference championship match, Marshall defeated St. Peter 3-0 to win the league’s overall title.

Once again, St. Peter and New Ulm are the team’s to beat in the East Division, Breamer said.

“We have some good matches with Waseca, St. James Area and our rival, Blue Earth Area,” Breamer said. “One of our goals each year is to beat Blue Earth Area. The matches are close and some of the matches go the full five games.”

Fairmont hosts Blue Earth Area on Tuesday, Sept. 13, and travels to Blue Earth on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Will the Cardinals earn bragging rights with a couple of victories against their rival?

The Cardinals should be a better team in the second half. During the first half, the newcomers will need time to get in synchronization with the veterans.

The sectional tournament starts Oct. 5, while the state tournament is Nov. 9-12.

Breamer’s assistant coaches are Sally Schmitz and Hailey Leiding.