LEAPING STRIKE — Fairmont hitter Jazlyn Geerdes elevates before crushing the volleyball over New Ulm’s Malorie Anderson (11) and Laura Bertrang (far right) during Big South Conference action Thursday night in Fairmont. The Cardinals’ Olivia Ortega (12) and Breanne Steuber (14) look on. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The climb up the mountain was just a little too long for the Fairmont volleyball team in its Big South Conference tilt against the New Ulm Eagles on Thursday night.

“We played as a team tonight, but just fell a little short in the end,” head coach Kim Breamer said in reference to her Cardinals’ 25-16, 25-21, 25-17 loss to the Eagles in Fairmont.

“We played very well tonight,” New Ulm head coach Sarah Swanson-Cullen said. “We had some nice performances on the court.”

The Eagles’ Laura Bertrang had 10 kills, while Emma Gieseke added eight to make a good 1-2 offensive punch.

Fairmont’s Jazlyn Geerdes, who left midway through the first game after taking an errant elbow to the head before returning midway through the second game, led her team’s offense with eight kills.

New Ulm’s Amber Lee finished with a staggering 38 assists, while setter Grace Pendergast had nine to lead Fairmont.

“Amber has soft hands,” New Ulm’s Swanson-Cullen said. “She is very steady out there.”

The Cardinals were close in Game 1, trailing 15-14, but couldn’t get closer. Anna Ehlert served three straight points, including an ace, to help the Cardinals creep within 9-8 early in Game 1.

The Eagles’ Laura Bertrang served the final five point to lead them to the victory.

In Game 2, once again the Cardinals had the game tied at 18-all and had momentum, thanks to Brylee Miller’s three straight service points and Geerdes’ all-around strong offensive and defensive play.

A Fairmont side-out gave New Ulm its final point to take Game 2.

The Eagles followed the same script in Game 3, keeping the Cardinals just out of reach, using the Bertrang and Gieseke net combination to pull away toward the late stages of the game.

Brylee Miller had 15 digs and Kynlie Anderson added nine for Fairmont.

The Cardinals (0-5) compete in the Sleepy Eye Public Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday, while New Ulm (3-1) hosts St. Peter at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday night.

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Martin County West 3, Alden-Conger 2 — Martin County West improved to 4-1 on the young season with a thrilling back-and-forth 25-22, 18-25, 13-25, 25-19, 15-13 win over the Alden-Conger Knights on Thursday in Trimont.

The Mavericks rallied to win the final two games after trailing two-to-one in the Valley Conference clash.

Lucy Larson had a team-high 14 kills for MCW, followed by Aspen Kosbab with 10, Grace Bicknase with 8 and Emily Anderson with 8.

Marah Steele was a perfect 12 of 12 serving to lead the Mavericks. Emily Anderson served 17 of 18 for 94 percent, followed closely by Bicknase, who served 13 of 14 for 93 percent.

Larson served 16 of 18 for 89 percent and Emily Omvig served 14 of 17 for 82 percent.

On the defensive side for MCW, Steele had 13 digs, followed by Larson with 12, Anderson with 10, Omvig with 9 and Bicknase with 9. Liv Borchardt led MCW with four blocks, while Bella Lange and Anderson had three blocks apiece.

Martin County West (4-1) travels to Winthrop to face the Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thunderbirds at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night in a nonconference match.

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Blue Earth Area 3, Waseca 0 — The Bucs earned their first victory of the season on Thursday by sweeping three games from the Bluejays, 27-25, 25-23, 25-20, during Big South Conference action in Blue Earth.

Alicia Machacek led a balanced Bucs’ offensive attack by netting eight kills. Hailey Becker added six kills for the Bucs, followed by Kylee Eckmann with five.

BEA’s Haley Kalis finished with a team-high 15 set assists.

Taylor Klabunde and Eloise Blair were perfect serving by going 14 of 14 and 11 of 11, respectively, to lead the Bucs.

Becker served 11 of 12 for 92 percent, while Machacek served 15 of 17 for 88 percent for Blue Earth Area.

Defensively, Blair had a team-high 12 digs, followed by Katherine Armon with 8, while Machacek and Becker each had a team-leading two blocks.

Blue Earth Area (1-3) travels to Fairmont for a 7:30 p.m. Big South Conference match on Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym.