While it’s been an overwhelmingly successful season for the Cyclones volleyball team, they hit a bump in the road as they struggled to contain a lethal attack at the net as they dropped three straight sets in a loss against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on October 3.
The Cyclones have had an impressive string of games as they entered the week on a four-game win streak with an 8-2 record and second place in the conference. Their fortune continued as their defense played a large in a commanding victory against GHEC-T-ML on September 30; Sander noted her team “covered the floor very well” and the stalwarts at the net, Ashlyn DeMartini and Paige St Peter, were relentless as they blocked countless shots and combined for 12 kills on the night–team finished with 28. The serving game for the Cyclones has been a reliable source of offense all season and it continued against GHEC as the team scored 11 aces with Adeline Lotton and Brooklyn Meng landing four each.
The Cyclones also made quick work in their October 1 matchup against Sibley East as they won in three straight sets; Sander credited the defensive adjustments in the back row that played a large role in neutralizing the attack from the outside. It was another onslaught on the offensive side as the Cyclones scored 37 kills and 8 aces with Payton Blount finishing the night with 18 of her own. With two dominant victories and now six wins in a row, the Cyclones were primed to enact a measure of revenge on the LCWM Knights as Sander expressed her team was currently playing with “a lot of confidence and trust within each other to make the right play.”
It was a momentous occasion for both teams as they hosted their annual tradition of Dig’n Pink as part of Coaches vs Cancer and the Athletic Backers provided a free-will donation meal consisting of a pulled pork sandwich with cookie and chips. A raffle was held for a variety of prizes and several tables with the American Cancer Society provided information regarding cancer screenings and accepted donations toward research. Before the match started, the captains from both the Cyclones and Knights gave a brief speech about the impact the Coaches v Cancer games have had on funding research for a cure for cancer while also urging those in attendance to undergo screenings. Additionally, a handful in attendance were lauded for their outstanding courage and strength if they were currently battling or were a cancer survivor…a moment that certainly pulled on many heartstrings including this reporter.
It was nearly a packed gym as both LCWM and St. Clair fans filled the stands and it was one of the loudest matches of the season for the Cyclones as they faced off against a team that imposed their will upon them during their September 19th matchup. Coach Ashley Sander took the loss as a “learning experience” for her team as they have become a formidable team since that defeat, “Our mindset has gotten so much stronger than it was a few weeks ago and this team waited all week for this, so we’re ready to play.” Despite it being a home game, the noise from both sides of the crowd would have an impact throughout the match, but Sander felt confident her players would “feed off the crowd” and praised St. Clair’s student section for “getting our girls going on the court and we want to give them something to cheer about tonight.”
The first set began fast and furious as a solid volley between both teams ended with a ferocious shot by DeMartini that landed dead center on the Knights’ court for the Cyclones’ first point of the night. The striker would soon show off a much lighter touch on the following possession as floated a shot over the outstretched arms of defenders to gain another point for St. Clair. The two teams appeared evenly matched as they traded points in the early goings of the first set, but the Cyclones soon found themselves trailing the Knights on the scoreboard. LCWM’s attack was calculated as many of their kills in the first set–and throughout the evening–landed in empty defensive zones on the court.
Several strikers like Blount, DeMartini, and Brooklin Hinze worked tirelessly to get their team back into the set, but LCWM would find a way to take back control and extend their lead until they ultimately clinched the set. At one point, the Knights led the first set 17-11 and a brief pep talk during a timeout called by Sander helped spark a 4-1 run to cut the deficit 15-18; a notable play during the small run was a dig by Aubree Mathiowetz off a bazooka blast from a Knights’ outside that resulted in a fourth straight point for the Cyclones and a timeout by LCWM. StP would then land a soft shot in bounds to cut the Knights’ lead to two, but the lead would soon widen as LCWM went on a small run of their own; however, StP made an incredible diving save to keep the rally going and secure a point for her team as the score read 19-22. Despite the impressive resilience by the Cyclones, they were unable to contain an efficient Knights’ offense as they lost the first set 20-25.
The second set started off well as both teams traded volleys back and forth for a lengthy opening rally resulted in St. Clair took the first point; however, it would quickly turn into a disaster for the Cyclones as a series of mental mistakes on the court and lack of communication resulted in an 11-25 drubbing by the Knights. Much of the damage was done at the net as a once potent offense from Blount and Co. would be denied by Knights’ defenders throughout the set. Frustration seemed to set in for St. Clair, but Blount was still able to land a number of shots in bounds although it was all for naught as the Cyclones now had to dig deep to force a fourth set.
The Cyclones stood tall to start the third set, but even the patented set shot by Brooklyn Meng was ineffective against the Knights as one attempt would be returned to sender almost immediately afterward. LCWM continued its offensive onslaught as their heavy hitter decimated the ball en route to a stunning 9-3 lead over St. Clair. However, the Cyclones have proven they aren’t ones to back down so easily as the team fought to get back into the set as Blount and Hinze led the pack with a series of kills each while DeMartini and St Peter tightened their presence at the net to block a number of shots by the Knights. St. Clair was within arms reach of tying the set and taking their first lead since the very first set of the match, but LCWM continued to adjust their game plan and stopped any chance of a comeback as they would eventually close out with a 25-20 win.
The Cyclones had some impressive performances from DeMartini and Blount throughout the night, but the team struggled to contain an offensive as lethal as their own as the Knights scored on a high percentage of their shots. The third set showcased this team’s ability to dial in and grind back into a match, but consistency at both facets will remain at the forefront for this team as they prepare for the final few weeks of the season.
The Cyclones still stand at a respectable 10-3 record and look to bounce back after the tough loss as they host Nicollet on October 7th during Parents’ Night and face off against MVL at home on October 8. Go Cyclones!
