WEST BURLINGTON — Pick a Crusader. Any Crusader.
Point a finger in any direction at Holy Trinity’s rotation and you’ll find someone who came up with a big play to help the Crusaders win the SEI Superconference volleyball tournament title on Saturday night at Southeastern Community College.
The 25-14, 22-25, 17-15 win over No. 10 (Class 2A) West Burlington in the championship match was a collective effort for the No. 4 (Class 1A) Crusaders.
“It was just a fun night,” coach Melissa Freesmeier said. “And you know, we’re going to enjoy this one.”
It completed a sweep of the week for the Crusaders, who won all four matches of their own tournament on Monday, three Superconference pool play matches on Thursday, and three wins in the finals, beating Central Lee 25-12, 25-14 in the quarterfinals and Wapello 25-20, 25-16 in the semifinals. The second-set loss to West Burlington was the only set the Crusaders dropped all week.
“It’s been a huge week,” junior middle hitter Presley Myers said. “I think we’ve built off each tournament. Each match got harder and harder. We’re always looking forward, we’re always looking to prove something, and we’re using that momentum to succeed.”
“It was a great week to head into October,” Freesmeier said. “It’s been a long week, we’ve played a lot of matches, but this is a great win for us heading into next week and beyond.”
A month that started with the Crusaders going 1-2 in the season-opening Wapello Tournament ended with a conference crown.
“At the beginning of the season, we weren’t the best,” said sophomore Adalyn Kruse, whose kill on match point finished the title run. “We were still trying to build things up after losing all of our seniors from last year. It’s really big that we’ve come this far.”
It was big play after big play for Holy Trinity in the third set against the Falcons.
The Crusaders (18-5) faced match point at 14-13, but freshman Olivia Bendlage came up with the kill to tie the match.
“That’s a freshman coming through with a major hit,” Freesmeier said. “She just went right through their block. She’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Myers’ block gave Holy Trinity match point, but West Burlington was able to tie it and had a chance to serve out the match.
Myers, though, came up with another block to give the Crusaders another match point.
“I really just try to line up with their shoulder,” Myers said. “Press, use my long arms, use my big hands. I really tried to do that on that block.”
“She did that a couple of times tonight when we really needed her,” Freesmeier said.
The winning kill then belonged to Kruse, who had been dominant all day.
“Just get it in, just get it done,” Kruse said of her mindset on the kill.
“Set one, she was just painting everything,” Freesmeier said of Kruse’s hitting. “I thought she might have been a little fatigued at the end, but she came up with the last kill and we really needed it.”
Freesmeier, though, knew this title belonged to the Crusaders. She pointed out Emma Mohrfeld’s block that tied the final set at 12, the setting of Anna Bendlage and Elizabeth Griffin, and the back-row defense of libero Teagan Snaadt.
“Emma, that quiet kid, comes through with a big play,” Freesmeier said. “Our setters did a great job. Our defense, we’re picking up balls in the back row all night. Teagan was so good back there. Our bench — we’re not here tonight without them.
“So proud of these kids, each and every one of them.”
Something from everybody, and a championship for all.Kills — Adalyn Kruse 31, Presley Myers 24, Olivia Bendlage 13, Anna Bendlage 9, Emma Mohrfeld 7, Elizabeth Griffin 3
Assists — A.Bendlage 42, Griffin 31, Teagan Snaadt 6, Kruse 2
Serving – O.Bendlage 31-32 (1 ace), A.Bendlage 26-27 (2), Snaadt 27-28 (3), Myers 23-24 (5), Kruse 21-21 (15), Griffin 17-20 (1)
Digs — Snaadt 56, O.Bendlage 34, Griffin 33, Kruse 20, A.Bendlage 18, Myers 5, Mohrfeld 1
Blocks — Myers 9, Mohrfeld 4, O.Bendlage 3, Griffin 3, A.Bendlage 2, Kruse 1
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