Jaguars start season with 4-set win over NL-S (VIDEOS)

Facing a tall, senior-laden lineup for the season opener, the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team had their work cut out against undefeated New London-Spicer. The Wildcats (4-0) entered the match with four tournament wins to their credit at the Albany Invitational last Friday. One was a three-set win over No. 8-ranked New London-Spicer, and another was against Central Minnesota Conference perennial challenger Maple Lake.

NL-S's roster features 8 seniors with 6 players listed at 5'11" or taller. Their program also features 16 freshman players in the Class of 2029 who are split across the JV and C-squad teams. B-B-E's program is also fortunate to have a large freshman class of volleyball players totaling 14 who split between JV and C-squad.

Here's a video from game one tonight ending on a huge ace block by Kacey Fischer:


After each team split the opening sets, the Jaguars rocked NL-S in game three with a 25-18 win. B-B-E won game one 25-18, and NL-S squeezed out game two 26-24.

Game four was a grinder in the early stages with NL-S holding a 9-7 lead after they initially trailed 3-1. A strong run at the service line by Makenna Roelike fueled an 8-0 run that put the Jaguars in control. The Wildcats scored 3 of the next 4 points, but a Teagan Dingmann kill gave the Jaguars a 17-12 lead. A kill and ace serve by NL-S cut B-B-E's lead to 19-17. Out of a B-B-E timeout, Kacey Fischer had a kill and then an ace serve for a 21-17 lead. B-B-E finished the match by taking game four 25-21 as action closed out with an NL-S error.

Next: the Jaguars travel to Clara City next Tuesday, September 2 to face a loaded MACCRAY Wolverines team. MACCRAY won their season opener in a routine 3-0 sweep last Thursday at Dawson-Boyd. They hosted Adrian/Ellsworth tonight in a non-conference match.

Here's a postmatch interview with senior Kacey Fischer:


Senior outside hitter Kacey Fischer led the attack with 20 kills, 5 ace serves and 2 ace blocks.

More to come in the morning. I have a newspaper to get ready for the printing press!

Area volleyball scores on August 26:
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 3, Dawson-Boyd 0
Paynesville Area 3, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 1
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 3, Central MN Christian-Prinsburg 2
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 3, Benson 1
MACCRAY 3, Adrian/Ellsworth 1
#8 Sauk Centre 3, BOLD 0