While the Clippers were eliminated by Mayer Lutheran in the section playoffs in 2019, 2021 and 2022, until Tuesday in Mayer, they have never met the Crusaders during the regular season.
But it was business as usual. The Clippers put up a good fight, especially early on, but the Crusaders, ranked number one in state Class A, imparted their will in a 3-0 triumph.
“When they can do whatever they want, it’s really hard to defend,” said head coach Dave Nixon. “They all are capable of a solid attack. Number three (6-1 senior Marley Martin) is their leader, but she had a lot of help. They were clicking, and we weren’t. We played defense all night. It’s too much pressure on our defense when they can do whatever they want. They are number one for a reason.”
Anika Sathoff’s kill was the first point in game one, but the Crusaders quickly were in front 6-2. Ava Hahn tipped over a winner, swung for a kill and served an ace to deadlock the game 9-9. After a pair of ML errors and a Melia Sathoff ace block, the Clippers led 12-10.
Trailing 16-14 after a Melia Sathoff kill, the Crusaders took the game over, starting with a kill. Maya Lassiter pushed over an ace, but the Crusaders hit two more kills for a 17-17 tie before the game ended 25-20 on a kill.
“They played really great on the right side, the best I have ever seen from them,” Nixon said. “Their setter does a really good job of putting their hitters in a favorable position. She put the ball on the money. The libero, you don’t want to serve her because if she is the first contact, it’s going to be a decent pass.”
Anika Sathoff led off game two with a kill, and Sophie Perkins followed with an ace serve, but the Crusaders went on the warpath after with 15 kills for a 25-12 victory.
All on Mayer errors, the Clippers scored the first four points of game three, but the Crusaders took over soon after. Down the stretch, Taylor McCabe swung for a kill off the bench, and Hahn scored Clipper point 16 on an ace tip, but the game ended on the next play after an out-of-bounds serve.
“Taylor McCabe did a really good job on the right side,” Nixon said. “She had six kills in seven swings. In two they were in the net when she was hitting, but that’s a kill. She generates some offense for us. That was a bright spot when we needed something.”
Hahn and Anika Sathoff each totaled six kills, Melia Sathoff had two kills. Jocelyn Bartell, Lassiter each had one kill. Perkins set for 32 points.
Perkins and Melia Sathoff each extended for a pair of ace blocks. Hahn had one ace block.
Savannah Meyer dug up 11 Crusader hits. Hahn scooped nine. Anika Sathoff and Luci Blaschko each had six digs. Perkins had five and Jocelyn Kortuem had four. Melia Sathoff, Bartell and Lacey McCabe each added one dig.
“We just couldn’t do enough offensively,” Nixon said. “We couldn’t do enough with our ball control. The girls played hard, and we defended well, but we couldn’t get our offense going.”
But he said getting schooled isn't a bad thing.
“It’s no fun getting beat up by a team, but this is where you get your experience and learn what you have to do next time.”
On Monday, the Clippers travel to Wabasso. Last year, the Clippers beat the Rabbits in Cleveland 25-23, 30-28, 25-17. With an 11-3 record this season and ranked eighth in the state in Class A, Wabasso has only lost to Class AA Redwood Valley and Paynesville Area.
Above: The Crusaders put a ton of pressure on the Clipper defense. Here, Savannah Meyer and Anika Sathoff ready for a dig.
