VIEW TO A KILL — Martin County West’s Emily Anderson (9) elevates before cranking a kill over Cleveland defenders Maya Lassiter (12) and Greta Hahn (3) during Valley Conference volleyball action Thursday night in Trimont. The Clippers went on to sweep the match in three games. (Photo by Greg Abel)

TRIMONT — The Martin County West Mavericks’ volleyball team battled the top squad in the Valley Conference, the Cleveland Cippers, on Thursday in Trimont.

Despite a tremendous defensive effort, the Mavericks were on the losing end, 25-16, 26-24, 25-15.

“Realizing we were right there, but we have a little bit to go to get to where we want to be,” MCW head coach Kayla Zehms said. “We played very well defensively tonight. Cleveland is a good team and we were right there for the first couple of games.”

“Getting into our offense was key tonight and controlling the tempo was huge,” Cleveland head coach Dave Nixon said.

The Clippers’ Harley Connor had a team-high 13 kills, followed by Alexis Waldron with eight and Greta Hahn was tops on the team with 29 set assists.

“Our setter (Hahn) did a great job tonight,” Nixon said. “She helped us control that tempo.”

On defense, Emma Sweere led the Clippers with 20 digs.

The Mavericks’ duo of Lucy Larson and Emily Anderson each finished with eight kills and Grace Bicknase had 24 set assists.

Defensively for the Mavericks, Anderson collected a team-high 13 digs and one solo block.

Game 1 was close until Waldron served five straight points to give Cleveland a 16-10 lead. During the run, Connor tipped home a point and Sarena Remiger had a kill.

Hahn served the final point to lift Cleveland to the win.

Game 2 was the most competitive.

The gym was loud as each team took turns performing at the top of its game.

Zehms watched her Mavericks play spectacular defense, while Larson and Anderson jump-started their offense.

Anderson and Aspen Kosbab were the defensive stoppers in the game. Both collected digs with a hand on the floor, saving a potential Clipper kill.

Larson’s kill and tip gave the Mavericks points No. 23 and 24, putting the home team on the cusp of tying the match at a win apiece, but they couldn’t get the winning point as the Clippers were able to score the final five points to win 26-24.

“We were right there, but didn’t get the final point,” Zehms said.

The Mavericks fell behind early in Game 3 and never mounted a threat. The Clippers’ Hahn controlled the offense and helped her team get the conference road victory.

MCW (5-10) plays host to Nicollet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Trimont, while the Clippers (9-3) compete in a two-day tournament at the Midwest Volleyball Warehouse at 4:30 p.m. today and 9 a.m. Saturday in Burnsville.

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St. Clair 3, Truman/ Martin Luther/GHEC 0 — The Cyclones outlasted the Jaguars in a pair of significantly-extended games to capture a 25-17, 33-31, 28-26 Valley Conference sweep on Thursday night in St. Clair.

Johnnie Zaharia made a team-best 15 digs and connected on four aces behind 17-for-19 serving to pace the Jaguars’ effort, while teammates Londyn Bowers and Brianna Petrowiak delivered 18 and 12 kills, respectively. Petrowiak also cranked one ace on 14-for-18 serving for the Jaguars, while Gracie Zaharia chipped in three blocks.

Ella Nagorske distributed 17 set assists and scooped up nine opposing spikes for the purple-and-black, while teammate Hayley Stensland doled out 21 set assists and recorded three blocks.

The Jaguars (2-8) compete in the United South Central Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday in Wells.

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St. James Area 3, Fairmont 2 — The Saints rallied for a 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 25-14, 15-11 comeback win over the Cardinals during Big South Conference action Thursday night in St. James.

Brylee Miller smacked 12 kills, made 23 digs and cranked four aces on 13-for-15 serving to top Fairmont’s effort.

Kynlie Anderson also connected for four aces behind 23-for-23 serving and dished out 14 set assists for the Cardinals, while teammate Grace Pendergast doled out 14 set assists, scooped up 11 digs and went 11 of 14 serving.

Jazlyn Geerdes delivered 14 kills and chipped in four digs for Fairmont, Chantel Moeller completed 21 of 23 serves for three aces to go with five digs, while Ellie Ortega supplied four kills and nine digs.

Olivia Ortega made eight digs and tallied one ace on 7-for-9 serving, Corene Moeller drilled four kills, while Bre Steuber added three kills.

Fairmont (2-10) hosts Waseca on Tuesday night.

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St. Peter 3, Blue Earth Area 0 — The hometown Saints outdueled the Bucs, 26-24, 25-6, 25-22, during Big South Conference play on Thursday night in St. Peter.

Katherine Armon made 11 digs, spiked out four kills and went 6 of 7 serving for BEA, while Alicia Machacek and Kylee Eckmann each pounded out eight kills. Machacek also tallied three blocks.

Eloise Blair made a team-best 21 digs and served four points via an 8 of 9 effort, while Haley Kalis doled out nine set assists and went 9 of 10 serving with four points.

Taylor Klabunde contributed 10 digs and a 7-for-9 serving effort for the Bucs, Hailey Becker supplied four kills and four set assists, while Rylan Storbeck added five set assists.

Blue Earth Area (2-5) competes in the United South Central Invite at 9 a.m. Saturday in Wells.