Despite competing in three matches in four days this early in the season, the Cyclones volleyball showcased a potent offense as they are off to a scorching start after winning their fourth match in a row in a compelling matchup against the Sibley East Wolverines on September 12. The young team was pushed throughout the contest that ended in three sets, but held strong in a hard-fought second set en route to their victory; in fact, the Cyclones tasted victory twice already that week as they defeated USC in straight sets on September 9 and Le Sueur-Henderson 3-1 on September 10.
Coach Sander praised the team’s potent offense as the key to the two previous wins as four strikers in Payton Blount, Paige St. Peter, Brooklyn Meng, and Ashlyn DeMartini led the Cyclones’ aerial assault in the contests. Meng received additional commendations from Sander for “controlling our offense well” in the LSH matchup as she ended the night with 10 kills. The Cyclones have made a strong emphasis on maintaining a high level of focus under duress and the team was able to bounce back in a big way after losing the third set by cruising to a 25-13 in the deciding fourth set.
As the team went through their pre-game rituals and warmups, Sander acknowledged her squad’s recent success and attributed their “consistency in practice” as a main catalyst toward victory, “We treat our practices like an actual game and the girls are really thriving off of that level of intensity and energy.”
It seemed to be a captivating matchup between the Cyclones and Wolverines and the opening points of the very first point of the first set turned out to be a fantastic opening salvo as both teams volleyed back and forth as the Cyclones defended the attack well with Haddie Jobe and Adeline Lotton playing excellent in the back court; the point would come to an end with Blount delivering a haymaker of a kill to net the first point for her team. Blount was a formidable force on the floor as she finished the match with 15 kills.
The start of the contest displayed incredible teamwork and competitiveness as the two teams traded points, but a major turning point was the bulwark from St. Peter, Brooklin Hinze, and Meng as the three terrorized the Wolverines at the net. St. Peter batted away several shots while Hinze turned a blocked shot into a kill just seconds later; not to be outdone, St. Peter was rewarded for her defense by a perfect assist from Meng to secure a kill of her own. The Wolverines would do their best to get back into the set, but the Cyclones denied any attempts at the net en route to a commanding 25-12 win.
A fanatic home crowd with its student section adorned in orange and yellow safety vests…for whatever reason…cheered its volleyball team with a variety of chants and the occasional barb toward their opponent after a mistake. “You can’t do that.” The crowd surely played a factor in the Cyclones second set as the team dug deep and overcame a five-point deficit late in the set to secure a 25-22 victory.
The Wolverines looked determined to get back into the match as one player in particular delivered a ferocious spike to net the first point. As a measure of revenge, DeMartini would power a spike through a defender’s outstretched hands to tie the set at one point a piece. The Wolverine’s newfound aggression on the court seemed to rattle the Cyclones as they struggled for the next few points; miscommunication paired with an awakened offense by their opponent resulted in an early deficit on the scoreboard.
Sander called a timeout and urged her players to “show them what we’re capable of out there.” The pep talk seemed to work as the Cyclones used the Wolverines’ aggression against them as several shots landed out of play resulting in four straight points and a timeout by Sibley East. The Cyclones had gained some momentum with the four point swing and they kept their foot on the gas as they rallied to tie the set with Blount delivering a lethal strike to take back the lead. The Wolverines would recover and found themselves four points away from victory; however, the Cyclones dug deep and sharpened their focus as Meng and St. Peter played pivotal roles during the comeback in the second set. St. Peter netted two kills in a row to give her team some momentum while Meng used her wits to catch the Wolverines off guard with a series of quick strikes at the net.
The Cyclones rallied their way back into the matchup to tie the set at 21 only to seize control and clinch the set 25-21 thanks to a series of devastating kills by Blount. Blount brutally battered the ball to tie the set at 21, used a softer touch to reach set point, and delivered the final blow for the Cyclones with another vicious strike. It was an incredible showing of determination and grit for the Cyclones as they dug themselves out of a deficit throughout the set on their way to a well-earned win.
As the Cyclones scored the clinching point, both the team and their fans erupted with cheer and applause after an impressive display of teamwork and execution. Sander remarked that set two has “always been a battle for us” but she remained confident her squad would “have the determination to take back control of each point.” Sander credited Meng for “making sure that we got the ball into our hot hands.”
Blount wasn’t quite through with her bombastic barrage as she kicked off the third set with consecutive kills to nab the first two points of the set for the Cyclones. The Wolverines would recover and claim the next three points, but some stellar defense by Lotton and Aubree Mathiowetz helped their team tie the set at three points. Mathiowetz stood out in this deciding 25-16 set as her defense in the back court and serving prowess helped clinch the match for the Cyclones; she would finish with two aces and 19 digs. The Wolverines were desperate to get back into the match and they took an early 13-9 lead in the third set, but the Cyclones chipped away at the deficit as Meng took the defense by surprise with a quick strike and Blount delivered a precise strike in the back right corner of the court to give her team the lead.
It seemed that a switch had gone off in her head as Blount would follow up that kill with two consecutive attacks that caused Sibley East to call a timeout. Not even a timeout could slow Blount down as she continued her assault out of the break with another kill as the opposing defense no longer tried to even block her shots…they’d just stand back and stare helplessly. The Cyclones would go on to score the next ten points as they took command of the third set with Meng delivering a brilliantly timed kill to clinch the match.
It was certainly a jaw-dropping display from both sides of the court in the win as the Cyclones showcased a lethal offense and a stingy defense. Most importantly, the young team showed resilience in their second set and relied on each other to reclaim the lead late into the set and finish off their opponent. The Cyclones look prepared for a remarkable season with a 4-1 record to start the year, but there is still a long road ahead for Coach Sander and her team, “We know we still have so much more in us that we are excited to show as the season continues. These girls show up to practice ready to work and push each other to be better.”
The Cyclones enter their third week of the season with four straight victories and look to keep that momentum going on the road as they face off against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on September 17, Minnesota Valley Lutheran on September 19, and a noon matchup against Mankato Loyola during Loyola’s Homecoming on September 20. Go Cyclones!
