Bethlehem Academy Volleyball Sweeps Kasson-Mantorville

The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals rode very aggressive serving to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-12 win over the Kasson-Mantorville Komets in Kasson on Thursday night.

My unofficial statistics had the Cardinals with 10 ace serves and 11 service errors and the Komets with eight service aces and six service errors.

The first two sets started in see-saw fashion with six ties in the first set and nearly that many in the second before Bethlehem Academy pulled away for the wins.

The Cardinals rolled throughout the third set.

From the very start of the match you could tell Bethlehem Academy was concentrating on putting up a better block then they did early Tuesday in their incredible come-from-behind win over Mayer Lutheran.

Payton Nutter and Mary Campbell had to have impressive hitting percentages, combining for more than 20 kills in the three-set match. Jacie Jasinski and Tess Glenzinski continue to get better at the net for the Cardinals, and that could be critical come playoff time.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the match courtesy of Jason Krohn and Tony Langerud were Nutter, Campbell, Delaney Donahue and Keely Skluzacek.

Oliva Nass served a couple of aces in the third set and was steady setting and digging, and Shelby Meyer made another twisting set to save a ball from the net.

The win was the sixth straight for the Cardinals and spoiled the Kasson-Mantorville homecoming week match.

Kasson-Mantorville was ranked No. 6 in the latest Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association poll in Class 2A and Bethlehem Academy is No. 1 in Class 1A.

It was the first time I had the opportunity to be inside the new addition to the school and the refurbished gym. What a gorgeous facility.

Kasson-Mantorville hosts Pine Island on Tuesday and entertains Stewartville on Thursday and the Cardinals see New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva come to Van Orsow Auditorium on Tuesday.

The Komets are now 13-7 and Bethlehem Academy is 13-6.

I took a few pictures of the commons area of the school and the view from the balcony where I was perched.