Bethlehem Academy Volleyball Opener A Disappointment

The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinal volleyball team did not look like a top-ranked team in the state in their three-set loss to Lakeville North on Tuesday night in Lakeville.

The Coaches Preseason poll ranked the Cardinals tops in Class  A.

The Lakeville North Panthers are coming off a couple of tough seasons and don't have a single senior on their squad. Seven seniors return for Bethlehem Academy and a few of them have played multiple seasons.

But the youngsters from Lakeville North were the aggressors, and I always say the most aggressive team usually wins in any sport.

Lakeville North was 9-18 last season and lost in the opening round of the section tournament to the Faribault Falcons at home. I can tell you the team that played last night looked nothing like the team a season ago.

Look out South Suburban Conference, because man have they improved.

Junior setter Amanda Burger had 44 assists in the three-set match and is fun to watch. By contrast, the entire Cardinal team had 22 assists.

The Panthers' libero freshman Halle Wolfe was under control yet tenacious and hitters Macy Winter, Kennedy Brady and Elizabeth Juhnke didn't tip and push many balls, they swung away aggressively.

Winter, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, led the Lakeville North attack with 16 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Juhnke, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, collected 13 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. Brady, a 6-foot junior, hit .435 with 12 kills.

Lakeville North finished the night with a team hitting percentage of .407. That's typically unheard of against a Bethlehem Academy team. They've been known for their defense for a long time.

The Cardinal passing was simply not there, resulting in many sets too close to the net and their serve reception wasn't very good either.

Lakeville North was super aggressive on their serves with 11 errors and 10 aces while Bethlehem Academy tallied four aces and five errors. Scores were 25-19, 25-12, 25-18. The match was over in 64 minutes.

The Cardinals' attack percentage for the night was .169, but the number that really stood out for me was the serve reception with a .839 percentage.

Neither team exactly blocked lights out, with Bethlehem Academy finishing with two blocks and Lakeville North one.

The Cardinals had 32 digs, led by libero Keely Skluzacek, and Lakeville North finished with 37 digs, led by Wolfe with 14.

The Panthers' serve reception was .909 percent and, according to the Lakeville North statistics, just two players received serves.

Lakeville North head coach Jackie Richter told me before the match her team has terrific potential and it showed Tuesday night. They pretty much stayed in system all night and the exact opposite was true for Bethlehem Academy.

The Cardinals don't get much time to work on the myriad of items needed to improve. They host perennial volleyball power Marshall on Thursday at Van Orsow Auditorium.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game were Payton Nutter with 15 of the team's 22 total kills and seven digs, and Keely Skluzacek with 13 digs to lead in that department.

Here is an eye popping statistic for you: Lakeville North had attack percentages of .324 in set one, .615 in set two and .323 in set three while Bethlehem Academy's attack percentages were .250, .080 and .192. Ouch!