On the road at New London-Spicer, the Jaguars volleyball team won 3-0 to improve to 7-2 overall on the season. Game one was competitive most of the way, although NL-S only led twice at 1-0 and 7-6. The Jaguars, meanwhile, went up 15-10 and 17-11 before the lead dissipated to 20-19. After a Coach Weller timeout, the Jaguars earned a huge solo block by Taylor Braegelman and an ace serve by Brittany Winter to regain the momentum. An ace serve by Raeann Sorenson brought game point, 24-20, before both teams earned points with the Jaguars winning 25-22.Games two and three were won by the Jaguars by identical scores of 25-14. They really stepped up their game in games two and three, as told by the game scores. The improved passing caught the attention of the Upsala girls' basketball coach Paul Pelzer, who was one of the two referees for the match. Pelzer, whose daughter Aimee is a leader of the Cardinals volleyball team, noted that he was very impressed by the depth and balance of the Jaguars and their excellent setting and passing game.
Let's hope they can keep it up as their schedule gets tougher and tougher. Big dates on the horizon are September 26 (home vs. 5-0 MACCRAY), September 29 (at 11-0 Maple Lake), October 3 (home vs. 6-0 Sauk Centre) and October 6 (home vs. 7-1 Pierz). Both Pierz and Maple Lake are the top competitors in the Central Minnesota Conference.
Tough competition also awaits the Jaguars at the Willmar Tournament (Oct. 1) and at the St. Michael-Albertville Tournament (Oct. 7-8).
The Jaguars next take on Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (1-6) in a home match at 7:00 on Thursday night. The Lakers were 0-4 going into their home tournament on Saturday, where they went 1-2 in pool play and did not make the finals round. In the Lakers' CMC opener on Sept. 8, they were defeated by Pierz 25-18, 25-15, 25-13.
Action from the end of game one...
Area volleyball results on Sept. 12:
CMCS-Prinsburg 3, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 2 (CMCS won game five 17-15)
Maple Lake 3, Holy Family Catholic 1
Albany 3, St. Cloud Cathedral 1
MACCRAY 3, Redwood Valley 1
