Martin County West topples New Ulm Cathedral
Trending
TRIMONT - Nerves are supposed to be felt in the postseason. A team’s seeding doesn't matter. It's now a win-or-go-home environment with everything on the table.
No. 2 Martin County West felt that excitement early in Monday's opening round of the Section 2A Girls Volleyball Tournament. Despite No. 15 New Ulm Cathedral taking a quick lead in set one, the Mavericks responded with authority and ultimately swept the visiting team, 25-11, 25-14, 25-10. Martin County West now faces No. 7 United South Central this Thursday in Trimont at 7:00 p.m.
"It's just awesome," Martin County West head coach Kari Brolsma said. "They had a little bit of jitters to start things out. Then they got things together, calmed their nerves a bit and played great through the three sets."
The Greyhounds’ only lead came in set one. A pair of Maverick errors and a block by Jayde Altermatt pushed New Ulm Cathedral up 5-2. Martin County West didn't take long to respond. Two Jaylee Hanson kills and two Maddie Carlson aces sparked five straight Maverick points. Hanson and Brynlee Haukoos each blocked returning digs to help Martin County West score six more times and clinch a 13-6 advantage.
Madelyn Hazuka helped New Ulm Cathedral bring the set within seven after her outside hit guided three consecutive points. But Brolsma's own hitters began to catch fire. Bailey Larson ended the Greyhound rally with a powerful middle spike. Giana Chase and Carlson picked up kills on opposite sides of the net to take the match lead. Carlson, Hanson, Larson, Haukoos and Chase finished the contest with a combined 35 kills.
"It's been like that all season," Brolsma said. "You don't see many high school teams in these areas that have five really good hitters along with good players off the bench too. That's what we've had all season."
Back-to-back outside spikes from Carlson capped off Martin County West's 8-1 lead in set two. Two net hits and a Maverick missed serve brought New Ulm Cathedral to its smallest deficit, trailing just 14-9. Larson helped break the scoring drought with a soft tap over the middle. Hanson followed with a leaping block and a spike to push her team to a 20-11 lead.
The Mavericks collected two more blocks during their final set-sealing surge. Hanson had consecutive rejections in the same rally, the ladder hitting the hardwood to secure the point. Ida Rohman's block was followed by a final spike from Haukoos. Martin County West consistently made it difficult for New Ulm Cathedral to get its offense going. The Mavericks defense at the net was a big reason.
"The block was the big key tonight," Brolsma said. "You put up a block against hitters and a lot of times they'll just tip or wall-shot the ball, and that's what they did. We did a really good job on that and covering the tip tonight, and we need that to continue."
A five-point Martin County West run helped its early 11-4 lead in set three. New Ulm Cathedral's missed serve preceded two Larson net collisions and a Haukoos tap over. Chase and Carlson outside kills forced Greyhound head coach Becky Wilfahrt to call a timeout, with her team down 18-8. Another New Ulm Cathedral out-of-bounds spike attempt put on the finishing touch.
Thursday's winner takes on either No. 3 Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's or No. 6 Cedar Mountain on Monday, November 2, at St. Peter High School.