Host Le Sueur-Henderson didn’t cause a lot of problems for the Cleveland varsity girls on Monday in a 3-0 non-conference sweep.
Harley Connor’s kill (above) put the Clippers up 2-0, but the Giants loitered around and dropped in a hit to tie the game at five.
From there, the Clippers went on a four-point spurt that featured a pair of Greta Hahn ace serves. The Giants scored sporadically after that, but the Clippers kept in control and, including a kill and ace serve from Ava Hahn, ran for six-straight points and a 20-12 advantage.
“The girls did a great job with their net play,” said head coach Dave Nixon. “We had a lot of blocks, and it was a pretty high kill efficiency tonight.”
Down the stretch, Lexy Waldron swatted a kill and put up an ace block for points 22 and 23. Connor’s block was point 24, and the Clippers won 25-17 when the Giants hit into the weaving.
With the score tied 4-4, Ava Hahn’s kill was the start of a 12-point Clipper surge the put game 2 out of reach for the home team. Winners in the team-effort run included a Melia Sathoff ace tip and kill, a pair of Ava Hahn ace serves and a Serena Remiger ace block and kill.
The Giants mostly kept up with the Clippers from there. For the Clippers, Sathoff swung for a kill, Waldron dropped down an ace block, Greta Hahn tipped over a winner, and the game ended 25-14 on a Jersie Kelley kill.
Ava Hahn’s kill was the first point of game three and the start of a nine-point crusade. The two teams traded points the rest of the way. For the Clippers, Connor banged a coupe of kills, Waldron added an ace tip and kill, and Emma Sweere pushed an ace into a vacant spot on the Giant side of the floor to put the Clipper in front 18-8.
From there, Sathoff hit a pair of winners, Jocelyn Bartell pushed over an ace, and the game ended 25-14 when LSH shoved the ball into the net.
Ava Hahn led the attack force with seven kills. Waldron, Connor and Sathoff each had five kills. Laci Hollerich had four kills. Remiger had two kills. Kelley, Maya Lassiter and Bartell each had one kill. Greta Hahn set up 34 points and had a kill of her own.
Sweere scooped 10 digs. Savannah Meyer had a baker’s dozen digs. Ava Hahn had seven digs while sister Greta had six digs.
Waldron posted a trio of solo blocks. Remiger and Sathoff each had four block assists.
“The blocks really set the tone for us,” Nixon said. “In our runs, we were getting a lot of blocks, and if we weren’t blocking, we were digging it and putting the ball away. It was a great job by the whole team. We were able to get everyone in, so that was pretty big.”
Ava Hahn had three ace serves. Greta Hahn had two ace serves. Sweere had one ace serve. Sweere, Waldron and Sathoff were perfect from behind the service line.
The Clippers finished their regular season a day later at home against Madelia (see separate story).
Laci Hollerich battles up front.
Ava Hahn led the attack group.
Greta Hahn pushes up a set.
Jersie Kelley on the dig.
Lexy Waldron swings through a hit.
Savannah Meyer on the dig.
Chloe Anderson battles at the net.
The student section had a tropical flavor.