Prep volleyball: Mavericks get best of BOLD
ST. PETER -- Two teams known for superb defense met Saturday night on Gus Young Court at Gustavus Adolphus College for the Section 2A volleyball crown.
While the defenses dueled to a draw, Martin County West cut loose more attackers to gain a 25-20, 25-22, 25-18 victory.
"They definitely hit the ball better than we did," said BOLD coach Leigh Ann Snow. "We knew going in that the Mavs were a great defensive team. We just couldn't figure out how to break them."
The Mavericks unleashed five attackers who finished with between 6 and 12 kills. Only Baylie Kubesh with nine kills had more than five for the Warriors.
Kate Thiesse, a junior middle hitter, led the MCW offense with 12 kills and 4 ace blocks.
Second-year Mavs head coach Mary Sussenguth stated both teams feature a defense intent on making the other team err first.
"We knew going in that we couldn't get frustrated with their great defense and that Baylie was a key player for them," the Willmar native added. "We tried to make the setter play the first contact to remove them from the offense. Bailey is successful at pushing the ball to Zone 1 on the second contact, so we tried to defend that the best we could."
BOLD never got a lead in either of the first two games, though they stayed close to the lead and forced several ties.
The Warriors punched ahead 16-13 in Game 3 but the Mavs went on a tear scoring 12 of the next 14 points.
"All season we haven't been a great come from behind team and it happened again," stated Snow.
"We didn't play our best but were in every game," she added "Maybe, that is why I am so disappointed. I believe if we brought our A game we could have won."
The future is bright with only two regulars in the rotation graduating. BOLD, which won this section in 2011, ends up 16-13.
While the Mavericks (23-9-1) didn't make State last year, back in 2010 they lost to Wabasha-Kellogg in the Class A championship match and finished 30-3.
Martin County West 3, BOLD Warriors 0
BOLD (16-13) 20 22 18
MCW (23-9-1) 25 25 25
(Key: good-attempts-aces)
BOLD
Serving: Baylie Kubesh 15-15-1, Bailey Elbert 11-11-0, Carly Sigurdson 12-12-0, Mallarie Steffel 10-11-1, Samantha Luepke 5-5-0, Paige Larsen 8-8-0 ... Setting (assists): Kubesh 5, Luepke 13, Kiah Morse 1... Hitting: Kubesh 35-38-9, Taylor Ebnet 19-21-3, Sigurdson 22-23-4, Mallarie Steffel 27-31-4, Andrea Maher 10-14-1, Larsen 14-14-2, Morse 4-6-1 ... Blocking (aces): Kubesh 3, Ebnet 3, Steffel 2, Larsen 2, Morse 1 ... Digs: Kubesh 16, Elbert 14, Ebnet 9, Sigurdson 23, Steffel 24, Liza Reinert 1, Luepke 9, Maher 5, Larsen 14, Morse 1
MARTIN COUNTY WEST
Serving (aces): Jordan Gregory 1, Morgan Williamson 1, Taryn Tumbleson 2, Molly Klima 1 ... Setting (assists): Williamson 25, Kennedy Janssen 14 ... Hitting: Hailey Leiding 9, Gregory 8, Kate Thiesse 12, Tumbleson 9, Libbie Lange 6 ... Blocking (aces): Thiesse 4, Lange 6, Leiding 4 ... Digs: Autumn Smith 18, Klima 35, Jackie Schliesmann 15
