Mavericks clinch section semifinal appearance with win over USC
Martin County West overcomes deficits in second and third sets
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TRIMONT - October 8th was the last time Martin County West volleyball lost a single set. The contest versus Cleveland saw the Mavericks take their second loss of the season. Since then, Martin County West has played near-perfect volleyball. Three straight wins and three straight sweeps have led to its 22-2 record.
Thursday night was another opportunity to assert its dominance. No. 2 Martin County West was set to face the visiting No. 7 United South Central Rebels. The winner advanced to next Monday's Section 2A Girls' Volleyball Tournament Semifinals.
United South Central twice threatened the Mavericks’ sweep streak. After Martin County West took a match point, 25-17, the Rebels controlled portions of sets two and three while leading by as much as five in both instances. But the Mavericks ultimately prevailed, taking the final two sets 25-21 and 25-22 to seal a matchup against No. 3 Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's in the following round.
"We covered really well, which we were working a lot on this week," Martin County West volleyball head coach Kari Brolsma said. "We were hitting the spots and just didn't get down. I mean, we were down in the second and third sets and were able to dig ourselves back out of that hole. That's what you need in the playoffs."
This is also the Maverick volleyball program's last game in the Martin County West Trimont Elementary gymnasium. The Mavericks will move to Sherburn in the fall of 2027.
"It's amazing," Brolsma said. "The ride that we've had so long here in the Trimont school, a lot of great, great players that I can remember watching play. I could start naming them off, but I know I would miss a few. When I first started playing volleyball, I looked up to all of those ladies who played."
Seven straight Martin County West points fueled its opening set victory. The Maverick run, thanks to kills from Giana Chase and Maddie Carlson, pushed them ahead 23-9. United South Central responded by notching eight consecutive points. Chloe Bullerman finished the rally with a powerful spike and timely block that cut her team's deficit to six. Jaylee Hanson's outside kill and a crisp serve from Sydney Clow clinched a match point. The Rebels’ late surge, however, foretold their impressive performances in the following two sets.
United South Central ripped three straight points to open set two. Momentum continued after Bullerman and Alivia Bruegger slammed spikes, while Josephine Edwards notched two aces. Brolsma called a timeout with her team facing an 11-6 deficit.
"They were getting blocks on us, and we're not used to that," Brolsma said. "We've been working on that a lot in practice, to cover, cover, cover. If it gets blocked, we want to keep playing it, and they did that tonight. They [United South Central] played well on defense. They were pretty scrappy. But we just kept pushing and came out on top."
A Hanson block followed by Carlson's spike on the same rally brought the Mavericks within one, 17-16. Chase's tap over the net sparked another scoring outburst to put Martin County West ahead for the first time all set. Another timely Clow serve followed by a Hanson rejection and Bullerman's hit into the net. A 20-18 Maverick lead just like that. Martin County West secured the set with consecutive blocks on Brugger over the middle.
The Rebels took their largest lead of the night after jumping ahead 7-1 in set three. Bullerman netted four points with a block and three kills. Chase's block and kills from Carlson and Hanson on the outside cut Martin County West's lead to two. Reanna Obermeyer's left-side spike again pushed United South Central ahead 11-7.
Martin County West knotted the score at 12, 13, 15, and 17. But every strike came with a Rebels counter. Hanson helped the Mavericks take the lead for good with a middle kill. Brynlee Haukoos scored with a spike of her own before Hanson's service point forced United South Central head coach Joe Kuechenmeister to call a timeout, his team down 20-17. Bailey Larson concluded the contest by scoring two of Martin County West's final four points via spike.
"Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's is where we ended things last year, and I know the kids really want to beat them this time around," Brolsma said. "We'll practice hard tomorrow; they will get a couple of days’ rest and be ready to go on Monday."