Bethlehem Academy Perseveres in Win Over Mayer Lutheran

It didn't look good for the home team until about midway through the third set.

The Class A No. 2-ranked Mayer Lutheran Crusaders were having their way at the net against the top-ranked Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals and were up two sets looking for the sweep.

Bethlehem Academy chipped away to win the third 25-22 after dropping the first two 25-23 and 25-14.

This was no fluke. Mayer Lutheran is very good with eight players on their team at 5-foot-10 or taller and just one senior playing a lot. They play above the net and are so fun to watch because they crush the ball. Rarely do they push it, or dink it, or dump it. The Crusaders act like they are on a crusade and you can see they have fun just hammering the ball.

I remember saying during the broadcast if the Cardinals don't get a block up soon the night will end in a sweep. Bethlehem Academy head coach Franz Boelter told me that was basically his message to the team when they were down 19-16 in the third set.

The Cardinals won that third set 25-22 and forced the fifth set after a 25-17 win in the fourth set.

Senior Payton Nutter was drenched after the match and unofficially I had her with more than 20 kills on the night. Nutter had a kill in just about every way you can get one: crush kill, tip kill right handed, tip kill left handed, two hand push to a hole deep, two hand push sliced down the net and of course the trusty dump kill.

The Cardinals had their best blocking of the night in the fourth set and it showed. You don't have to stuff the ball, just slow it down enough for your back row defenders to get to it and make passes. If you do that enough, the opponent starts trying to hit harder or around the arms and the errors start showing up. That's what happened to Mayer Lutheran.

The Crusaders still had a chance to win the match.

They were serving at match point 14-13 but the server hit a get me over the net serve and Bethlehem Academy was able to easily pick it up and set Nutter outside left and she crushed it down the line. The Cardinals served out the match, winning the fifth set 16-14.

There were so many incredible plays in the match.

Olivia Nass took a smoking hot hit for a dig that should be on a highlight reel of exciting sports plays. Shelby Meyer contorted herself on the move to save an overpass and avoid the net more than once.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance Agents Faribault players of the match courtesy of Tony Langerud and Jason Krohn were Nutter, Mary Campbell, Meyer and Nass.

Jacie Jasinski and Tess Glenzinski contributed with a couple of big blocks and Delaney Donahue continues to play well all the way around the court. Keely Skluzacek is one of the most efficient jump servers you'll ever see.

I'll be in Kasson on Thursday night when the Cardinals tangle with the No. 6 ranked Class AA Kasson-Mantorville Komets on KDHL Radio, 920 AM and online at www.kdhlradio.com. Just click on the Listen Live button or download the free RadioPup app and listen on your favorite mobile device.