Cathedral clips Cleveland

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Taking advantage of mistakes made by Cleveland, New Ulm Cathedral beat the Clippers 3-0 in their last regular season match.

The first game began with Cathedral being called for a lift to give the first points to Cleveland. Soon, the game tied 2-2, Cleveland lost three points to mistakes and miscommunication. They never fought their way back in the game. Cathedral's senior hitter Leisl Genelin ended the game with an ace serve to make it 15-2.

Cathedral came out stronger to begin the second game, capitalizing on Cleveland errors for the first two points, only to turn around and lose the lead to errors and tie it 2-2. From there, once again, the Greyhounds used well-placed hits and Cleveland errors to take the second game 15-2.

Game three was different. Although Coach Karan Whitmyer had changed the lineup little in the first two games, she decided to mix it up more in the third game.

Only senior Liesl Genelin and junior Nikki Fischer stayed in all three games. Fischer had 21 set assists, served 16/16 and made 10 points, while Genelin served 10/11 and two aces for seven points. Genelin also had six ace hits. Juniors Julie Seifert and Melissa Kraus contributed with three ace hits apiece.

"I have about seven to eight players in rotation," said Whitmyer. "We have a strong core of about five players, with Nikki Fisher as the cog of our wheel."

In game three, the volleys were longer, and even though Cathedral pulled out 5-0 early on, the play was close due to nice hits and blocks on both sides. Freshman Toni Hall had two ace blocks. Cleveland pulled to within three points four different times, but Cathedral pulled off the win 15-7.

"Two or three kids who were playing are not in the full rotation, so play was not really flowing," said Whitmyer. "None of it was really flowing."

Because of the long weekend without many practices, the girls needed to get back into the flow of things before sub-section play begins on Thursday. Whitmyer plans to "refine -- go back to the basics for a day or two" to continue preparation against Winsted Holy Trinity, whom they have never played.

The Greyhounds face Winsted Thursday at Cathedral for their first game of sub-section play.

In B-squad play, Cathedral won 15-6 and 15-9. In C-squad action, Cathedral won 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.