New Ulm High stumbles vs. Waseca

By DOUG MONSON

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Parents night at New Ulm High School brought out a larger than normal crowd, unfortunately the Eagles gave them little to cheer about.

The Waseca Bluejays came to town Tuesday night and walked away with a match in three: 15-4, 15-13 and 15-3.

Waseca senior Amanda Proehl's serving sparked the Bluejays in games one and three, opening each game for the Bluejays with seven point leads.

Bluejays' coach Michelle Johnson said she was pleased with her team's performance, and it was important for her girls to win the match 3-0 because they had done it in the previous four games.

"We don't really have a stand out players but we play well together," Johnson said.

Evidence of the teams camraderie proved itself in game two when the Bluejays found themselves trailing the Eagles 6-9. The Bluejays had trouble finding answers to Eagles' sophomore Coresa Leighty, who used her height to disrupt several Bluejay attacks.

The Bluejays preserved, however, and fought back to take the lead and extend it to 14-10. But the Bluejays faltered again, giving up possession of the serve five times to the Eagles.

The Eagles were unable to capitalize, however, managing just three points on the following possessions, and they finally succumbed 15-13.

Eagles' coach Rebekah Otte said she thought the team passed well, but made too many mental mistakes to win the match.

Leighty said she thought the team served better than it had been serving, but she too thought there were too many mental mistakes.

Steph Navara, whose passing helped keep the Eagles in game two, said the team made too many mental mistakes to overcome.

"It just seemed like our heads weren't in the game,' Navara said. "Our passing was very well tonight. Our defense had been better tonight than most nights."

Navara led the Eagles in serving, finishing 7-for-7 with two aces, while Sara Schneeberg finished 12 for 12 with an ace.

The win improves the Bluejays to 13-10 overall and 2-2 in the South Central conference. Proehl finished the night 22-for-22 serving with three aces. She also added seven blocks for the Bluejays.

Laura Yager and Ashley Hoffmann split time at setter for the Eagles. Yager finished the night with 13 set assists and eight digs, while Hoffmann contributed five assists.

Despite the night, Navara said the team is still looking to make an impact in the playoffs. She said from here out, the team needs to mix things up and continue to find a way to win.

Leighty said she thinks the team needs to get over the mental lapse they sometimes find themselves in. And as for Otte, she said she needs to continue to find a successful combination with her line-up.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 5-15 overall and 1-3 in the conference, with two conference games remaining. The Eagles have Thursday off before traveling to Blue Earth Saturday for the Blue Earth Area Tournament.