Nicollet picks up pace to defeat Cleveland

Swenson dominates net for Raiders with 15 blocks,13 kills

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NICOLLET -- Nicollet recovered from a slow first game and regained its composure, defeated Cleveland 14-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 Thursday night in Valley Conference volleyball action.

"It was senior night tonight, so we were a little emotional and depressed that this would be our last night," Nicollet's Bridget Hulke said. "We've been having some downs this year, but we want to come back together now that playoffs are going to be coming up soon."

Nicollet looked flat in the first game as Teila Frederick's kill put the Clippers up 15-10. Brianna Meyer's kill gave the Clippers a 23-13 lead. Cleveland hung on to win the first game, finishing with four ace serves in the game.

"They were going deep on us," Nicollet coach Judy Radke said. "We generally have real good serve receivers. Unfortunately tonight, it was just a matter of the girls seeing the ball and we weren't seeing the ball."

In the second game, Nicollet looked like a completely different team, jumping out to a 7-1 lead with Hulke at the line. Klare Swenson's kill made it 8-1. Swenson continued to play strong at the net, registering a kill and an ace tip. to make it 23-10. Cleveland crawled back, but Nicollet held on for a 25-19 win.

"We came together as a team and we started talking," Hulke said.

The Raiders again got out to a strong start in the third game, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. However, Cleveland managed to mount a comeback and went up 7-6 on Meyer's kill. The Raiders then retook the lead when Kari Kettner had a kill and an ace tip to make it 11-7. Cleveland responded with a 9-1 run to make it 16-12, but once again Swenson was big in the middle for the Raiders, registering two kills and an ace tip to put Nicollet up 21-19.

"We need her up front," Hulke said. "She's a big player. She's tall and she has long arms. We need her up there every single game getting every block."

Kettner's ace tip made it 23-20 and Katie Truebenbach's kill ended the game, giving the Raiders a 25-22 win.

Becky Bernau's tip gave the Raiders a 4-1 lead in the fourth game. Swenson continued to play strong, delivering a kill that gave the Raiders a 15-11 lead. Another kill by Swenson made it 20-16 and another Swenson tip made it 24-16.

"We struggled a little bit on a couple of serves, but at the end we came together and we got every pass up there," Hulke said. "The setter was able to adjust and we came together as a team."

Hulke led the Raiders with 26 digs and Marybeth Vaske had 12 digs. Swenson finished with 15 blocks and 13 kills and Bernau finished with seven set assists.

Nicollet (7-11-1, 2-6) is at Mankato Loyola Monday.