Unfortunately for the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals volleyball team they have been in the same situation they found themselves in Tuesday night.  One of their best players and team leaders out with an injury and the Cardinals trying to find out how to play without her incredible hustle and tenacity on the floor.  BA found themselves down in every set at one point or another and managed to defeated a very good Waconia Wildcat team in Waconia in four sets. 18-25, 27-25, 25-23. 25-22.  Senior Payton Schultz is the tenacious team leader who never takes a play off and for the second straight year is out due to injury.  Last season a torn ACL meant she was gone for the entire season. Last Saturday she broke her left elbow going all out, as always, for a ball.  Schultz is a very versatile player, and can really do it all on the volleyball court.  Extremely athletic with a motor that won't quit.  Coach Franz Boelter says not only is she, "one of the best players we've ever had" she's also "one of the best people we've had in our program." When I think of al the terrific young women who've come through the program in the nearly 28 years I've been here,  that is high praise indeed.  Tuesday night the Cardinals dropped the first set and were down 23-20 but came back to win the second set 27-25.  Waconia had two set points and couldn't hammer down the win.  BA captured the third set in another see-saw thriller and were down 5-0 and 18-10 in the fourth set before going on an absolute serving tear to win the fourth set.  Hannah Robb served up three aces, Lauren Mathews had four ace serves on the night including two in the fourth set, Payton Nutter had an ace, Keely Skluzacek an ace and Shanna Matejcek an ace in that fourth set comeback.  Waconia had to wonder what hit them.  These Cardinals took on the personality of their absent leader Schultz and went home with an incredible win over a very good volleyball team.  Coach Boelter told KDHL Schultz's surgery went well and the doctor was able to piece back together three pieces of bone without a problem.  Now they wait to see if there is nerve damage and let the healing process begin.  Coach Boelter asks everyone to pray for her recovery.  On another note, Junior Madi Strodtman collected her 1,000th career kill in the match and joined Lauren Mathews and Payton Nutter as our State Farm Faribault players of the match.

                                        Cardinals at Lakeville North in August

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