Crusaders stay unbeaten in SEI Superconference play

DONNELLSON — The chemistry of Holy Trinity’s volleyball team is at its best at the most important time of the season.

October is a month that always seems to belong to the Crusaders, and they started their final push toward the postseason with a strong 25-13, 25-9, 25-9 sweep of Central Lee on Tuesday night.

The Crusaders (22-4 overall, 6-0 SEI Superconference South Division) put together one of their most consistent matches of the season.

“Tonight, it really showed how far we’ve come,” said senior Natalie Randolph, who had seven kills and 18 assists. “The last few weeks have been good, but not great. Tonight showed how far we’ve come as a team, how much better we are together.”

“I really think we’re moving things around,” said sophomore Presley Myers, who had 11 kills and five blocks in a dominating show in the middle. “We can run from the outside, we can run from the right side. I think just moving the ball around works really well.”

The Crusaders were tested by Central Lee (8-23, 0-6) in the Superconference Tournament semifinals, but never let the Hawks get anything going in this match.

“Tonight, we didn’t let them make big runs,” Holy Trinity coach Melissa Freesmeier said. “They can do that on you. We didn’t make a lot of unforced errors.

“I thought we got better tonight as a team, and this is the time of the season when you want to be doing that.”

“They can move the ball around,” Central Lee coach Amy Cook said. “And not many things drop on them. So they’re just a good team. Historically, they’re a good team.”

The Crusaders showed their offensive balance. Mary Kate Bendlage and Anna Bendlage each had eight kills. Taegan Denning added three kills.

It comes, the players said, from the way they work together.

“We’re so close,” Myers said. “Outside volleyball, inside volleyball, we’re always together. I think just being so close to each other really helps our game.”

“I feel like all of us have great chemistry,” Randolph said. “And it transfers onto the court.”

Myers controlled the net right away, with two kills in Holy Trinity’s first three points. She also had two kills and a block early in the second set that gave the Crusaders a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

“Presley is a great asset in the middle,” Randolph said. “She’s been clicking, we’ve been clicking, so it’s really good.”

“Her and her setters, they’re clicking,” Freesmeier said. “It takes a while to get in the groove. She’s starting to show confidence, like everyone else on the team is. And when you’ve got confidence in each other, it helps.”

Central Lee couldn’t keep pace with the Crusaders after midway through the first set, but Cook said it was a good education for her team.

“We’ve had a lot of changes the last three days,” she said. “I know we lost the game. But I know our girls had fun. So I’m actually pretty pleased like that.

“Holy Trinity, they’re good. So playing them shows what we need to fix. So we’re going to concentrate on that in practice.”

The Crusaders were especially relentless on defense. Randolph, Mary Kate Bendlage and Teagan Snaadt had 11 digs. Denning had nine digs. Adalyn Kruse had two digs and four blocks. Bendlage and Denning each had a block.

Denning was 14-of-14 serving with two aces. Randolph was 16-of-17 serving with an ace. Anna Bendlage was 11-of-11 serving. Mary Kate Bendlage was 10-of-11 serving with an ace. Kruse was 6-of-7 serving with an ace. Snaadt was 7-of-8 serving, and added six assists.

Taylor Jones led Central Lee with nine kills and four blocks, and added 10 digs. Ellie Lake had 11 assists and 11 digs. Jayden Mueller had 21 digs. Lila Shepard had two kills and four digs. Kylie Fortune had three kills and a block. Brooklyn Jones had two kills and three digs. Makayla Howard had four digs. Josie Newton had five digs and two blocks.

Holy Trinity has a chance to go through the South Division undefeated in Thursday’s Senior Night home match against Danville.

“It would be great to do that,” Freesmeier said. “We have to show up every night in this conference, and Thursday night is no different.”

“There’s going to be so many emotions with Senior Night,” Myers said. “People think it’s an emotional, sad night. But it’s really a celebration for this team.”