Mustangs head back to state

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

HECTOR -- A new year, a new venue.

One thing that has remained the same since the 1999 state volleyball tournament is the Section 2-1A champion Buffalo Lake-Hector Mustangs. And even that has changed.

"We really didn't expect to be as good as our (30-3) record indicates," Mustang coach Susan Alstrom said.

Gone from last year's state runner-up squad are hitters Jennifer and Jessica Johnson as well as Roshelle Kiecker and Michelle Reck. Instead of rebuilding, though, BLH has just reloaded.

"We lost four starters from last year's team, but the team we have now is real cohesive," Alstrom said. "All the girls have accepted their roles well, and everyone plays together as a team."

Last year, the Mustangs fought through Bertha-Hewitt in the quarterfinals and Brandon/Evansville in the semis before eventually falling to Central Minnesota Christian in the state title match at Williams Arena on the U of M campus.

This year is different, though.

"Winning (state) would be wonderful," Alstrom said, "but all three teams in our (top bracket) pool have been rated higher than us (No. 5) at one point or another throughout the season."

One of those teams is Section 7-1A champion Cook High School, BLH's opponent in quarterfinal action Thursday, 1 p.m., at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center. Cook is also a team that Alstrom knows a little bit about.

"My sister lives in Tower (Tower-Soudan fell to Cook in the section finals), plus there was an assistant of mine that scouted them," she said. "They're tall ... taller than we are, and they pretty much dominated their section."

The way to combat height on a volleyball court is quickness, something this Mustang squad has.

"We're going to have to run a lot of quick plays to offset their height," Alstrom said. "We're going to need to pass the ball real well, and find the openings in their blocks."

The 2000 version of the Mustangs is senior-dominated, led by hitters Lindsay Ashburn, Katie Fluhrer and Jessica Mellies as well as setter Stephanie Buboltz. Jenni Wicklund and Tatum Heller round out the starters for a team that lost just one game throughout the sub-section and section tournaments.

"We're not overly confident," Alstrom said, "but the kids have some experience by playing in last year's tournament. If we pass the ball, we should be OK."

Plus, the BLH fans will be there to support their squad -- as was evident Saturday at the section championship match at Gustavus.

"The kids love to play when there's a good crowd, and we have that," Alstrom said. "I think we had the best fans at the state tournament last year, and they'll be there again for us this year."

The fans will be there for the Mustangs ... no matter what happens.

"We're just happy to be in the position we're in," Alstrom said. "We'd like to win that first one (Thursday), to make sure that we play all three days.

"Plus, we just want to have some fun."