ST. PETER - A Madelia fan commented in the hall at Lund Center after watching his Blackhawks fall decisively to Central Minnesota Christian: "There's no shame in losing to that team."
The Bluejays stilled the underdog's state tournament dreams 25-18, 25-9, 25-20 for the Section 2A title Saturday evening at the Gustavus Adolphus athletic complex. The win earned CMCS the school's eighth trip in the last nine years.
Senior hitter Hillary Slagter (11 kills), who will playing in her third state tournament, said "I've loved each one of them."
Slagter was a sophomore on the 2003 that fell to Buffalo Lake-Hector in the sub-sections, but went as a freshman and last year when the Bluejays won consolation title.
"Tonight, we had to make sure we weren't overconfident," she said. "We assumed since they'd made it this far they were playing very well. They were scrappy, picked up tips really well and their serves moved us back."
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Blackhawks' coach Marnie Kortuem, gracious in defeat, said the Bluejays' experience showed in their composure when they fell behind 6-2 early.
"I think we were a little awestruck and our confidence went down in the second game, though we rallied back in the third," Kortuem said. "(CMCS) adjusted to our strength, which is serving."
Madelia (15-13, whose only state trip was in 1980, had won six straight coming in.
CMCS hitter Beth Bulthuis (13 kills), one of four seniors on the team, commented afterwards: "It's really exciting to be going. We've been playing together since seventh grade."
Coach Traci Grussing has coached all eight state tournament teams, three of those to state titles.
Junior setter Kresson Vreeman and junior hitter Moriah Gulbranson had six and five ace serves, respectively.
The Bluejays will face Meadow Creek Christian in the quarterfinals.
CMCS 3, Madelia 0
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Madelia (15-13)........................ 18 9 20
Central Minn,Chrisitan (26-5)... 25 25 25
Madelia
Serving: Cali Hines 2, Melissa Tatro 1 .... Setting (assists): Alyssa Kunz 19 .... Hitting: Kinz 4, Tatro 7, Hines 4, Mary Jacobs 4 .... Blocking (aces): Tatro 1, Hines 1, Jacobs 1, Heather Simons 1
Central Minnesota Chrisian School
Serving: Moriah Gulbranson 12-13-5, Hillary Slagter 3-5-1, Jenifer Blom 6-7-0, Tara Frikke 12-14-2, Kresson Vreeman 20-26-6, Cassandra Ulferts 4-5-1, Stephanie Bulthuis 6-6-0, Abby Tebben 2-3-1 .... Setting: Vreeman 61-63-25.... Hitting: Melissa Mulder 5-5-2, Slagter 22-24-11, Blom 8-9-3, Frikke 6-6-1, Vreeman 6-8-4, Elizabeth Bulthuis 27-30-13, Kari Mulder 1-1-1, Ulferts 2-2-1 .... Blocking (aces): Vreeman 2... Digs: Becky Schwitters 4, Melissa Mulder 3, Slagter 4, Frikke 3, Vreeman 2, E. Bulthuis 2
