No. 5 HTC girls rack up another sweep

SWING AWAY

Sometimes tonight, when they went on their runs, you really saw us tipping the ball. One of the things we have to remember is to swing at everything.”

Anna Bendlage, HTC senior hitter

FORT MADISON - Melissa Freesmeier knows every year she can count on her seniors to provide leadership.
It’s how you become a power in Iowa high school volleyball, and Freesmeier has two seniors playing big roles on Holy Trinity’s team this season.
Anna Bendlage and Teagan Snaadt have become big voices within the Crusaders, and they provided some of the big plays in Tuesday’s 25-22, 25-16, 25-23 win over Mediapolis at Shottenkirk Gym.
Holy Trinity, ranked No. 5 in Class 1A, took sole possession of the SEI Superconference South Division lead with the win.
“Any time you can get a sweep in the South, it’s a good night,” Freesmeier said.
Freesmeier has stressed that this is a young team, but Bendlage and Snaadt have helped make sure the Crusaders’ progression through the early part of the season has continued.
“I think it's just building their confidence up, telling them you are good enough to be out here, you're playing on one of the best teams and the best programs around, that you just have to know that if you're out on this court, you're a really good player, and you're meant to be out there,” said Snaadt, the Crusaders’ libero.
Both have been perfect fits into Freesmeier’s system.
“Anna's not usually the person that's loud on the court, but she's stepping up and doing that this year, and I know her teammates appreciate it,” Freesmeier said. “She's always cheering. She's never down. She just keeps them pumped up. So I think that's huge for us.
“Teagan is just so solid, a real competitor, who does so many good things for us. To have those two as senior leaders has really made a difference for us.”
Freesmeier praised the court vision of Bendlage, the team’s setter.
“She comes up with big plays, finds the open spots on the floor and just does the little things that make us better,” Freesmeier said. “I’m happy with what she's doing, leading our offense and finding new ways to help us.”
Bendlage used misdirection and tips to find openings in Mediapolis’ aggressive defense, coming up with key points in the second and third sets.
“I think Melissa has done a good job of telling us to be patient,” Bendlage said. “Like when they’re blocking, wait and see where their hands are. Same with when they are playing defense, if you can just be patient, you can find holes in their defense.”
The Crusaders (4-2 overall, 3-0 division) have improved on their aggressiveness on offense throughout their current three-match winning streak.
“I think we’ve been working at swinging hard at everything instead of tipping,” Bendlage said. “Sometimes tonight, when they went on their runs, you really saw us tipping the ball. One of the things we have to remember is to swing at everything.”
Holy Trinity had 44 kills, led by Presley Myers’ 17. Adalyn Kruse had 10.
The Crusaders play Thursday at New London.
“I feel like we’re coming as a team,” Freesmeier said. “We got better tonight, we’ll get better tomorrow in the gym, then we’ll go play New London on Thursday.”
HOLY TRINITY STATISTICS
Kills — Presley Myers 17, Adalyn Kruse 10, Anna Bendlage 7, Olivia Bendlage 7, Emma Mohrfeld 2, Elizabeth Griffin 1.
Assists — A.Bendlage 20, Griffin 16, Snaadt 4, Myers 2, Kruse 1, O.Bendlage 1
Serving — Snaadt 19-19 (3 aces), A.Bendlage 13-13 (1 ace), O.Bendlage 12-13, Griffin 11-12 (3 aces), Myers 9-11, Kruse 8-10)
Digs — A.Bendlage 15, Griffin 12, Snaadt 11, Kruse 10, O.Bendlage 10, Myers 3
Blocks — Myers 2