Bethlehem Academy Wins in Mistake-Laden Season Opener

Faribault Bethlehem Academy volleyball head coach Franz Boelter noted after the Cardinals' season opening 3-0 win over Lakeville North there was much to improve upon, but a win is a win.

The Cardinals bested the Panthers 26-24, 25-15, 25-17 in a stuffy Van Orsow Auditorium. There were big barn fans everywhere, and football coach Scott Hanson had some of his players man the "towel patrol" during time outs to wipe off the condensation on the floor.

Boelter told Power 96/KDHL after the win you could tell it was the first match of the season for both teams with errors all over the floor. The match started very poorly for BA with Lakeville North jumping out to an early lead due to an unusual inability by the Cardinals to serve receive. The Panthers had six ace serves in the first set.

But even after the Cards gave up those points and had five service errors in the first set they still found a way to come back and win.

Bethlehem Academy cruised to the next two wins to secure the sweep. Boelter was pleased with the offensive balance and praised freshman Olivia Nass playing her first match in Van Orsow. Nass smacked the first serve of her varsity career for an ace and ended the night with five aces and six errors.

Our Faribault State Farm Agents Faribault players of the match were Shelby Meyer and Keely Skluzacek. Meyer served a number of points in the comeback in the first set and finished the night with 13 assists. Skluzacek led the team with six digs, enjoyed some pinpoint passes to teammates and tallied three ace serves in the final set. The good news for Cardinal fans is these ladies are both juniors. Another junior, Payton Nutter, was her usual steady self, leading the team with seven kills and adding four assists and four digs.

Lakeville North head coach Jackie Richter told us her team is definitely on the upswing with very good numbers in the sophomore class and below. However there aren't many juniors and she has two sophomores and two freshman on the varsity who will learn on the job in the tough South Suburban Conference.

The Cardinals will have to play better to beat the Marshall Tigers in Marshall on Thursday night.