Oswald steps up on senior night as BP sweeps LP

Published 9:50 pm Monday, October 8, 2018

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Blooming Prairie senior Rachael Oswald couldn’t have scripted her senior night much better.

Not only did BP’s lone senior on the volleyball team have a high impact on BP’s sweep over Lyle-Pacelli, she was also able to slam home the match-clinching kill in the third game as the Awesome Blossoms won by scores of 25-17, 25-23, 25-14 Monday.

Blooming Prairie’s Rachael Oswald sends a hit past Lyle-Pacelli’s Olivia Christianson in BP Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Oswald, who finished with 10 kills, put down the kill to chants of ‘We love Rachael’ from the BP student section.

Email newsletter signup

“That was really cool,” Oswald said. “I wasn’t really feeling like this was my last home game, but that [chant] kind of hit me. It’s been a blast [this year] and it’s been really cool to see my teammates grow while being part of the leadership. We have a strong team bond and I like to play for my teammates.”

Lyle-Pacelli’s Vanessa Cotter goes up for a hit in Blooming Prairie Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Oswald has served as a leader for a young BP team this year and BP head coach Ranell Kittelson said that has made a difference.

“Rachael’s done a good job and she had a great game tonight,” Kittelson said. “She’s had a great season and she’s such a positive leader. Last year she was pretty quiet and timid and it’s been so awesome to see her come in and shine this year. She’s done great things for us.”

Sophomore Micalyn Trihus had 16 kills in the win for BP (10-12 overall) and junior Heather Pirkl had 29 set assists.

Abby Bollingberg sets for the Lyle-Pacelli volleyball team in BP Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Athletics (7-9 overall) trailed for much of the first game, but they were able to pull within 20-17 before BP scored the last five points. LP pulled to within 24-23 in the second game when Olivia Christianson hammered home a kill, but the Athletics couldn’t complete the comeback.

Christianson finished with 15 kills as she faced the full attention of BP’s front line.

“That makes me work and it makes me better as a player. I need to work on learning how play around it and how to play with it mentally. [BP] was tough,” Christianson said. “They have a good block and they have really, really good hitters. They’re back row had a lot of good touches too. They’re a good team.”

Blooming Prairie’s Micalyn Trihus defends the net against Lyle-Pacelli’s Whitney Walkup in BP Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

BP stats: Julia Worke, 3 aces, 5 kills, 17 digs; Micalyn Trihus, 1 aces, 16 kills, 7 digs; Heather Pirkl, 29 assists, 8 digs; Rachael Oswald, 2 aces, 10 kills, 6 digs; Maya Lembke, 1 ace, 8 digs; Allison Krohnberg, 2 aces, 11 digs; Maren Forystek, 13 digs

Lyle-Pacelli’s Lucy Nelson goes up for a hit agaisnt Blooming Prairie’s Micalyn Trihus in BP Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

LP stats: Abby Bollingberg, 23 set assists, 6 digs, 2 blocks; Olivia Christianson, 15 kills, 4 digs, 4 blocks, 2 aces; Whitney Walkup, 4 blocks; Abbey Neve, 3 aces, 3 digs, 3 kills, 3 blocks; Vanessa Cotter, 2 kills; Lucy Nelson, 5 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces; Faith King, 12 digs

Blooming Priarie’s Heather Pirkl plays the ball in BP Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com