Sports
Nicollet sweeps St. Clair in subsection volleyball
Related Photos
-
St. Clair’s Danielle Embacher (black uniform) tips the ball over the net in Monday’s Section 2A South Subsection semifinal match against Nicollet. Wale Agboola
Discussion
Add a comment on this storyTools
Raiders calm Cyclones, advance to finals
NICOLLET — The St. Clair volleyball team has been a pesky opponent for Nicollet this season. The Cyclones erased a two-game deficit to the Raiders earlier this season to force a Game 5, which they only lost by two points.
But Monday, when Kayla Wenner leaped and pounded her match-high 14th kill into the hardwood inside the Raiders’ gym, the sophomore allowed no chance for another Cyclones comeback as the second-seeded Raiders won the Section 2A South Subsection semifinal match 3-0.
Game scores were 25-19, 25-20, 25-21.
“I was kind of hoping to get that last one,” said Wenner of her match-winning kill.
Nicollet senior Jenna Mettler added 13 kills in the win, and the duo of her and Wenner was tough for the Cyclones to stop.
“Our middles run a lot of fakes,” said Nicollet coach Judy Radke. “And I don’t think anyone can stop Kayla or Jenna with one blocker.”
St. Clair coach Becky Wilfahrt knew what the Raiders’ attackers were capable of, and stopping them was the Cyclones’ focal point.
“We started out doing a much better job blocking Mettler,” Wilfahrt said. “I think Wenner played a much better game tonight, and I think she’s the hitter that won it for them.”
Wenner’s 14 kills came on only 28 attacking attempts, and she connected on a couple of kills late in Game 3 to bring the momentum back to the Raiders’ side. Nicollet trailed Game 3 21-19 when Judy Radke called a timeout, igniting a 6-0 Raiders run to end the match.
“She just said have fun and smile,” said Wenner of the timeout. “We just needed to keep hustling because sometimes we do let down in that third game.”
The Cyclones led early in Game 1 as they used a couple of nice blocks at the net to built a 10-5 lead before Nicollet used a timeout. The breather worked well for the Raiders again as they went on an 8-1 run and an eventual 16-6 run to take command of the opening game.
Anna Skrien led the Raiders with 27 digs and Mettler added 19. Taylor Meurer had 46 assists and Erin Radke had four blocks.
Megan Beetch led St. Clair with 12 kills, and Nicole Dorn and Amy Jo Cords each had seven. Danielle Embacher had 32 assists and Chelsea Schull added 13 digs.
Nicollet (27-3) faces top-seeded Martin County West at 6 p.m. Thursday at New Ulm High School for the South Subsection championship. The Raiders lost to the Mavericks in a five-game match earlier this season.
- Sports
-
-
Clause, Cassem prepare for state alpine ski meet
A proven commodity and a relative unknown will represent Mankato in the State Alpine Boys Ski Meet Wednesday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.
-
Outdoor hockey catching on at college level
Outdoor hockey has given hockey a nice publicity boost of late, whether it’s from the NHL Winter Classic played the last three New Years Days or the college games.
-
Athletic events postponed
Most athletic events in Mankato area canceled or postponed.
-
MSU women upend Duluth 7-2 in tennis
The Minnesota State women’s tennis team had little troubled with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Minnesota Duluth on Sunday, earning a 7-2 victory at Swanson Tennis Center.
-
Mav women shut down St. Cloud 4-0
Four different players scored goals for Minnesota State Sunday as the women’s hockey team avenged a 6-1 loss to St. Cloud State on Friday with a 4-0 shutout at All Seasons Arena on Sunday.
-
Mavericks get boost from Barber
Minnesota State needed someone to step up in a pair of home game this weekend, and that someone was Lauren Barber.
-
Mavs turn close game into blow out
Minnesota State moved closer to clinching the Northern Sun with a convincing win over Minnesota State-Moorhead
-
BLC's Saffert sets all-time scoring mark
Former Mankato West standout Tommy Saffert became Bethany's all-time leading scorer Friday night.
-
Trauger leads MSU women over Crookston
Liz Trauger scored a career high Friday to lead the Minnesota State women past Crookston.
-
MSU men rout Crookston in basketball
MSU coach Matt Margenthaler challenged his players and they responded with a big win.
- More Sports Headlines
-
