Knights sweep North Central

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Everybody plays. Not that the Martin Luther Knights were overlooking their opponents Tuesday night, but their nonconference match with the North Central Rams was something to look forward to.

MLC cruised to a 30-14, 30-17, 30-15 win over North Central. The Knights not only picked up the win, but some valuable playing time for the reserves.

All 14 players on the MLC roster got to play. And more than they usually would. It gave the Knights a chance to work on that team communication thing.

"I think it gives us a great opportunity to practice working as a team together," senior middle hitter Sarah Backus said. "It helps our communication and we need to work with that because we're working with different groups. It's just a great team-builder trying different groups out there."

It really didn't matter who the Knights had out there. The Rams (6-4) were no match for the Knights (8-3).

Communication, which can be a problem when so many players are shuffling in and out, was not a concern for the Knights. Everybody was on the same page.

"I was very happy with that," MLC coach Drew Buck said. "When you don't play people a lot, you have those tendencies to back off because you're not sure what that person next to you is going to do. You really got to pick up the verbal communication on the floor. I still think we can do a better job of that, but I was happy with what we got tonight."

Backus, while not a starter, sees regular playing time in the Knights' front row. But not so Emily Babinec -- a freshman outside hitter.

"It was a lot of fun," Babinec said. "It was a good experience for me to get in and play a little more than just a little while at a time. It went really well."

Babinec recorded three kills in the match -- all in the final game, including the last two points for the Knights. Babinec blasted an attack the Rams' Melody Matson couldn't handle for the penultimate point and then placed a soft kill for the match-winner.

"It's a whole different game than in high school," Babinec said. "It's up a level, and it's a lot of fun."

Twelve Knights recorded kills in the match. Seniors Becky Bertolus and Missy Hahnke, and sophomore Crystal Mielke each had six kills to lead MLC.

Senior Annie Uecker led the Knights with 17 set assists and Becky Bertolus added 10. Sophomore Beth Bertolus led MLC with three blocks, and Pate and Uecker each had eight digs.

"The game plan was try to get out early, which we did, and try to get some kids some playing time," Buck said. "They here hungry and I was able to get some kids in that had very little experience to date. It was good to be able to do that."

Not that it was in doubt, but a quick start by the Knights gave Buck the chance to empty the bench. MLC jumped out 6-0 in the first game, taking advantage of successful attacks by Melodie Ohm and Hahnke, and three errors by the Rams.

Three more errors and a Hahnke kill to North Central's deep middle upped the advantage to 10-1 and the Knights were on cruise control. The Rams cut the margin to 12-6 and 14-8, but never got closer. MLC won the last four points, getting kills from Minnesota Valley Lutheran-ex Leah Morgan, who had three in the match, and senior Becky Pate.

"Obviously, we came out strong," Backus said. "(Coach Buck) had a chance to mix things up a little bit."

The Knights struggled to start the second game, falling behind 5-2. But after a serving error by the Rams, MLC ran off six straight points on the serve of Ohm to take a 9-5 lead.

The Knights put together another mini-run leading 12-8 when they got four straight points, getting kills from Mielke and Ohm, and a booming outside-in kill from Morgan. The Rams never threatened after that.

While the Knights were spreading it around, the Rams struggled with their transition game. Frequent passing errors and frequent free balls kept North Central from establishing any offensive rhythm.

Christine Paterno led the Rams with nine kills. Kasii May added five kills for North Central.

Despite the minimal challenge, the Knights had no letdown.

"That is the No. 1 thing you have to worry about," Buck said. "You have to set some stringent goals. We were setting point values for our opponents as a goal to try and get us to move a little bit. Sometimes you have to play a game within a game."

The Knights won that one, too.