Sisters give a big effort, but Cardinal volleyball team falls to Lanesboro in 5
Published 10:41 pm Thursday, August 22, 2024
LeRoy-Ostrander’s Kaci McKenzie sends a hit against Lanesboro in LeRoy Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
LeRoy-Ostrander’s Meah Stevens puts up a set against Lanesboro in LeRoy Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
LeRoy-Ostrander’s Kendall Olson puts up a hit against the Burros Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Brooke Jasper lines up a dig for the Cardinals. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Benita Nolt attacks the net. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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LEROY – LeRoy-Ostrander sisters Benita Nolt and Maria Almaraz-Nolt have been through a lot of battles together and they were put to the test again as the Cardinals couldn’t quite pull off a victory as they lost to Lanesboro by scores of 25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 20-25, 17-15 in a volleyball season opener Thursday.
The Cardinals (0-1 overall) led the final game 6-3 and they took a 12-8 lead after Almaraz-Nolt and Miranda Nagel both had big kills. L-O led 15-14 with a chance to win, but the Burros scored the last three points – including an ace serve by Jensyn Storhoff that made it 16-15.
Nolt, a senior, had 15 kills and 12 digs and Almaraz-Nolt added 14 set assists and five kills in her first match as a setter.
Nolt was pleased with how the Cardinals fought until the end.
“As a team, we did very well in pushing through. Going five sets is very hard, but we conditioned all summer and we’re ready for that fifth set when need be. We didn’t get the win, but we’ve got the whole season ahead of us,” Nolt said. “It’s so much fun that I get to share the court with (Maria). It’s really nice to have someone where we hold each other accountable, whether it’s at home, practice or lifting. We always have each other’s backs.”
Almaraz-Nolt was a hitter last year and this year she’s playing setter, along with hitter as the Cardinals are turning to a two-setter offense after Jenna Olson graduated after putting up over 1,000 career assists at L-O. Meah Stevens is L-O’s other setter.
“I’m embracing the change. I’ve just got to fill in a spot,” Almaraz-Nolt said. “Benita’s a big role model for me and she’s always there for me.”
L-O trailed for much of the third game before coming back to take a 20-19 lead, but the Burros closed that one in strong fashion. The Cardinals responded in a big way in a must-win fourth game by taking a 17-8 lead.
“This is what high school volleyball is. This was a fun match, but we wanted to be on the other end of it. We played hard,” L-O head coach Lindsay Milks said. “(Benita and Maria) are going to continue to grow together. Maria’s in a new role and with their ability to connect, they’re going to help us out a lot.”
LO stats: Meah Stevens, 20 set assists, 4 digs, 1 kill; Maria Almaraz-Nolt, 14 set assists, 5 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace, 1 block; Benita Nolt, 15 kills, 12 digs, 2 aces, 2 blocks; Brooke Jasper, 10 digs, 5 kills, 1 ace; Kaci McKenzie, 5 digs, 3 kills, 1 ace; Kendall Olson, 3 kills, 1.5 blocks; Miranda Nagel, 3 digs, 1 kill, 2 aces, 2 blocks; Addie Harn, 5 digs; Tessa Lewison, 5 digs
