Raiders ride to strong win over Greyhounds
Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Cathedral’s Ashlyn Hillesheim (10) blocks a hit by Nicollet’s Madison Kettner (11) as Cathedral’s Brynn Wilfahrt (7) jumps at the net during a nonconference volleyball match Tuesday at Cathedral High School.
Staff photo by Ari Selvey Nicollet’s Lydia Martens sets the ball during a nonconference volleyball match against New Ulm Cathedral Tuesday at Cathedral High School.
Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Cathedral’s Ashlyn Hillesheim (10) blocks a hit by Nicollet’s Madison Kettner (11) as Cathedral’s Brynn Wilfahrt (7) jumps at the net during a nonconference volleyball match Tuesday at Cathedral High School.
Staff photo by Ari Selvey Nicollet’s Lydia Martens sets the ball during a nonconference volleyball match against New Ulm Cathedral Tuesday at Cathedral High School.
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NEW ULM -- Nicollet was in the driver’s seat for the entirety of a 25-17, 25-14, 25-20 sweep of New Ulm Cathedral on on Tuesday, leading for all but the first few serves of the first and second sets during a nonconference volleyball match.
"I think it was not worrying so much about how wet the floor was and just keep our minds locked in," Nicollet setter Lydia Martens said. "Like when Chloe [Kachelmeier] ended up falling over but we still got the ball over -- just keeping our minds locked in and not worrying about the heat was the biggest part."
Megan Soost led the Raiders with six kills, three blocks and two aces, while Madison Kettner had five kills. Payten Otto had three kills and seven digs, while Cheyenne Klockziem had two blocks and four aces. Martens and Zoie Rengstorf each had six assists, with Martens adding three aces, while Kachelmeier had 11 digs and two aces.
Jayde Altermatt had four kills and eight digs for the Greyhounds, while Maddy Hazuka had three kills and 13 digs. Isabelle Sprenger had three kills and six digs, while Ashlyn Hillesheim had nine set assists and 10 digs.
A kill by Sprenger had Cathedral up 4-3 early in Set 1, but Nicollet went on a 7-0 run, capped off with a kill by Otto, to go up 10-4. A kill by Brynn Wilfahrt helped cut the lead to 10-7, but Nicollet wint on another run, this time going up 18-8 with help from three consecutive Klockziem aces, as Cathedral called a timeout. A block and a kill by Brynn Wilfahrt put the score at 18-12, and Cathedral hung on with a block and a kill by Hillesheim, but Nicollet closed out the first set with a 3-0 run and a 25-17 victory.
Three kills by Altermatt put Cathedral up early again in Set 2 with a 5-2 lead, but again Nicollet took control with a 9-0 run, with Jacelyn Wilking recording an ace during the run. Cathedral put together a 5-0 run, led by a kill by Hazuka, to cut the lead back to 13-12, but Nicollet regained the momentum with a 5-0 run, capped off by an ace from Kachelmeier, to go up 18-12. The Raiders went on a 7-1 run to complete the 25-14 victory.
Nicollet led from the jump in Set 3, going up 5-0 on a kill by Kettner. Cathedral called a timeout as the Raiders went up 11-4 and began to fight back, with kills by Wilfahrt and Hillesheim helping to cut the lead down to 14-13.
But Nicollet continued to push, going on a quick 4-0 run with a kill by Soost mixed in to go up 18-13. Martens said the key to holding off the Cathedral comebacks was staying relaxed.
"Not taking it too seriously and keeping the momentum and the spirits up," she said. "Just keep dancing and all that. It helps us win in the end."
The teams traded points for the rest of the set, but the Greyhounds were unable to make one final comeback as a pair of Wilking kills ended the match.
Nicollet (2-1) plays at Cleveland on Thursday, while Cathedral (1-7) hosts Cedar Mountain on Thursday.