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  • Belle Plaine’s Haley Fogarty (3) tries to get a spike past Mankato East’s Hallie Enderle during Tuesday’s nonconference match Tuesday at the East gym. John Cross

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September 7, 2010

Belle Plaine sweeps Mankato East in volleyball

Tigers have swept both of their matches

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — The Belle Plaine volleyball team is 2-0, having won both matches in three sets.

It’s no surprise to senior Sam Johnson that the Tigers have started strong this season.

“This should be our best year in a while,” she said. “It’s the most talent we’ve had in many years.”

Belle Plaine defeated Mankato East 3-0 Tuesday in a nonconference match at the East gym. Game scores were 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 in the match between Section 2AA foes.

“Belle Plaine has a history of awesome volleyball, and we were much more nervous coming into this match than (the season-opener against Winona),” East coach Kari Rodman said. “We made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes, our serving and passing fell apart. We were very predictable, and Belle Plaine put up a good block and brought up a lot of balls.”

East led the first game at 14-13 on Hallie Enderle’s ace serve, but Haley Fogarty served six straight points, with Kirsten Johnson getting three aces. Allyse Johnson made consecutive kills as East pulled within 24-20, but Abby Wolpern’s kill ended the game.

Five hitting or setting errors allowed Belle Plaine to go ahead 5-0, and the lead grew to 12-4 before Allyse Johnson’s kill and Kelsey Mosher’s block stopped the run.

East got as close at 18-14 before Sam Johnson served five straight points, and Kirsten Johnson’s kill made it 2-0 for the Tigers.

Belle Plaine controlled the third game, also, opening up a 13-6 lead. Enderle had a block and two kills to pull the Cougars within 14-9 before Belle Plaine pulled back ahead. Shayne Johnson’s ace serve and a couple of hitting errors closed the gap to 22-20, but Wolpern’s kill put an end to the match.

“I told the girls that losses helped to pinpoint your weaknesses,” Rodman said. “You have to learn from it, forget about it and move on. It will be a test of the girls’ character to see who shows up for practice, ready to work.”

Sam Johnson led Belle Plaine with 14 kills, several of which came on a crosscourt move.

“That’s my favorite,” she said. “It’s a go-to thing.”

Kirsten Johnson had nine kills, 13 assists and three ace serves, and Fogarty added five kills and 18 assists. Wolpern made 10 kills.

For East, Allyse Johnson totaled eight kills, and Enderle had five kills and four blocks. Shayne Johnson made 17 assists.

East (1-1, 1-0 in Big Nine Conference) plays Thursday at Rochester Mayo. Belle Plaine plays Thursday at Montgomery-Lonsdale.

“Our goals are very high,” Sam Johnson said. “There’s no reason we can’t make it to state this year.”

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