MLC dominates Saints

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Due to scheduling problems, the volleyball match between Martin Luther College and Mount Senario College started 35 minutes late.

The match itself lasted just 43 minutes.

MLC dominated all aspects Tuesday night, disposing of the Saints 15-0, 15-4, 15-1 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action at MLC gym.

"We knew coming in that (Senario) has virtually a new team, a very young team," Knight head coach Drew Buck said. "They've also had a change in the coaching staff, so they're still a year or two away of putting things together with their team."

MLC never looked back from the opening whistle, taking the first four points of game one before a side out. Rachel Kramer and Kelly Gawrisch led the front line play with a combined five kills and two ace blocks, and Emily Hahnke served eight straight points as the Knights reeled off all 15 points in just one rotation.

Game two featured a different lineup, but essentially the same results. Senario, behind the serving of Jenn Schroder, would battle back to knot the game at 4-4 before the Knights charged out again and took the remaining 11 points in a row. Christa Holub had two kills in the run, with Jenny Nommensen serving seven straight points to turn a 7-4 lead into a 14-4 advantage en route to the 2-0 game edge.

"We were able to work some different combinations tonight," Buck said. "You never saw the same lineup or same gameplan from game to game. I thought some of the young kids we have came in and did well. We had a few different lulls throughout the course of the match, but I think you're going to have that when you use as many different combinations as we did tonight."

Game three's pace was a little slower, but the front line of Holub, Melodie Ohm, and Kelly Gawrisch combined for five kills as MLC grabbed a 9-0 lead -- helped by the serving of Becky Bertolus and Becky Pate. Senario's lone point would come on a four-hit violation by the Knights, but Gena Schwartz's serving and kills from Liesse Luetzow, Missy Hahnke, and Pate put MLC on the doorstep. After yet another side out, Emily Hahnke closed out the match with the final service point.

"I thought we really dug down when we had to, considering the fact we had so many different players on the floor," Buck said. "We played better defense than we did offense at times, but overall I was very pleased with the performance."

Emily Hahnke led her team with 13 service points, 14 set assists and 10 digs while Nommensen added eight service points, two ace serves and 11 set assists. Kramer had six kills and two ace blocks, Holub added five kills, and Kelly Gawrisch contributed nine digs.

MLC, now 10-2 on the season and 2-0 in the UMAC, will travel to Ripon, Wis., for the Ripon Invitational Friday and Saturday.