MVL tops Madelia

By DAVE CLARK

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers girls volleyball team has returned to normal programming.

After dropping three matches over the weekend, MVL used some home atmosphere and defeated a spunky Madelia Blackhawks team 15-4, 8-15, 15-5, 15-12.

"We're glad to be back on track," said MVL coach Julie Detjen. "We were very disappointed in our play over the weekend, and we weren't sure which team was going to show up tonight. We got everyone into the game again. We're back to where we had been and that's good to see."

Blackhawks coach Kris DeMaris was philosophical about the loss. "I thought we played well against them. We fought 'till the end, and as long as we play hard I can't complain about that."

Emily Buck opened the MVL scoring in the first game with two aces, but the Chargers appeared a bit out of sync as the Blackhawks played even with them up until it was tied at 4-4.

A bad set by Madelia and a tip kill from MVL's Jessica Merseth put the Chargers up 6-4, and four side outs later the home team got serious.

Danielle Kramer served nine straight service points, with Angie Unke contributing two of her game high eight kill blocks and Jessica Beckendorf nailing three kills en route to the 15-4 win. But the Blackhawks weren't going quietly into the night.

The Chargers scored their first three points on aces from Kramer and Holly Enter to knot the game at 3-3, then took the lead 5-3 on two out of bounds kill attempts from Madelia. The Blackhawks returned fire with two aces from Meghan Halverson to again tie the game, followed by MVL's taking the lead 7-5 on a mistake from Madelia and an ace from Meridith Browne.

A tip kill from Brittany Lehman, four hits by MVL and aces by Joci Eser and Jamie Daley gave the Blackhawks a 9-7 lead. With Madelia up 11-8, Lehman hammered home two aces, followed by a bad hit from the Chargers and a tip kill by Lauren Eberhart to gain the 15-8 victory in game two.

Game three opened with three straight kills from Madelia's Eberhart, who was the Blackhawks main offensive threat all night. The Chargers tied it up at 3-3, but Madelia again went up by two on consecutive aces by Halverson. It was at this point Unke came in and essentially neutralized Eberhart, allowing the Chargers to resume their regular attack of hittin' 'em where they ain't and reeling off 12 unanswered points.

Unke blocked a kill and Madelia hit the ball into the net for a 5-5 tie. Add in four unforced errors by the Blackhawks, kills by Beckendorf, Buck and Rachel Olson, plus a kill and two more blocked kills from Unke and it spelled a 15-5 MVL win.

Game four was a roller coaster for both teams, with the Chargers taking leads of 4-1 and then 10-6 without being able to hold the lead. It was knotted at 10-10 when Madelia took their first lead of the game on an ace from Daley and a kill from Amber Tatro.

The final tie at 12-12 came on an ace by Merseth and the Chargers put it away on two unforced errors by the Blackhawks and a thunderous kill from Kramer.

For MVL, Buck had nine kills, Kramer and Merseth each had eight and Unke had seven. Buck added 26 assists, while Rachel Olson had six digs and Beckendorf had five. Kramer also had 19 service points.

Eberhart had 15 kills, 15 digs, six ace blocks and three ace tips for the Blackhawks. Tatro and Eser each had 16 digs, while Lehman had 17 set assists and three aces.

The win ups MVL's record to 15-6 overall, while Madelia ends their regular season at 13-12-2. MVL host New Ulm Cathedral (3-0 winners over Cedar Mountain Monday) at 7:30 tonight, while eighth seeded Madelia opens up the playoffs next Monday night in Windom against ninth seeded Springfield, with a starting time of 7:30 p.m..

MVL 15 8 15 15

Madelia 4 15 5 12