The 2024 volleyball season began Tuesday for the Lady Crusader volleyball team with a pair of home matches against Chadron. St. Agnes dropped both contests, losing in 2 sets in the JV matchup and falling in 3 sets in the varsity game. Both teams now see their records stand at 0 and 1 for the season.
In JV action, it was the Cards grabbing the early momentum in set one. The guests took a 4 to 1 early lead before an ace spike by Crusader Quinn Robertson pulled St. Agnes to within 2. Ace serves ensued by Alliance’s Stella Beck that tied the game at 4. Chadron answered back with 6 straight to surge ahead 10 to 4. A kill by Kale Hulquist ended the Chadron run and made the score 10 to 5. Later in the set, it was the Cardinals again taking control. The visitors would score 6 of the game’s next 7 points and went up 15 to 7. A point by Crusader Natalie Mullen gave St. Agnes hope later in the set but the Cards responded with 5 consecutive points to move ahead 23 to 10. The set concluded with another point by Beck and 2 more by the guests. First set went to Chadron 25 to 12.
Set 2 was a very evenly played contest. Two points by Robertson helped SA take a 3 to 0 advantage. A kill by Beck was followed a point by Beck as the Crusaders took a 7 to 2 lead. Nala Red Nest then would score a point for SA, keeping the Crusaders ahead at 9 to 3. Four straight Chadron points followed before a kill by Hulquist stopped the mini run by the Cards. Up 11 to 10, the Crusaders would get 3 straight points by Robertson which pushed the Alliance margin to 14 to 10. The teams would then trade points with SA getting another point by Red Nest. Two more points off the Hulquist’s serve gave St. Agnes their final lead at 21 to 19 before 3 straight Cardinal tallies gave the guests a lead at 22 to 21. The set and match then came to an end with 2 straight cardinal scores. Final of set #2 Chadron 25 St. Agnes 23
CHAD 25 25
SA 12 23
Stats had Beck and Robertson as St. Agnes top scorers with 5 points each. Hulquist added 2 points and 2 kills
The varsity game was next and had the Crusaders get off to a fast start. Two early points by Alliance’s Delaney Jelinek helped SA snatch an early at 3 to 1. A kill by Crusader Maslin Breen was the key play in the rally. A point by Aubrey Dudden followed which gave the Crusader a 5 to 2 advantage. The momentum then swung to the Cardinals as Chadron went on a big run. Six straight point by the guests gave the Cards a 9 to 6 lead. With Aubree Shrewsbury back at the serve line, it was St. Agnes’ turn to surge ahead. Three points in a row by the Crusader 8th grader gave Alliance a 10 to 9 lead. The teams traded points back and forth for most of the set. Points by St Agnes’ Reese Armstrong knotted the game at 15. Tied at 20, kills by Breen and Alexis Shlemadine were followed by 2 more ace spikes by Armstrong that put the Crusaders ahead for good. The set concluded with a kill by Armstrong with Shelmadine getting the point. First set St. Agnes 25 Chadron 22
Chadron came out red hot in set 2. The Cards ran off 5 tallies in a row and took an early lead. With the score at 5 to 1, the visitors continued their fine play with 5 more points to surge ahead 11 to 1. Midway through the set, it was the Crusaders making a comeback. Three straight points by Shlemadine sliced the St. Agnes’ deficit to 3 at 15 to 12. It was then Armstrong’s turn as Alliance continued their rally. A kill by Armstrong was followed 3 straight serving points that tied the game at 16. Unfortunately Chadron answered right back with a run of their own. The Cards tallied the game’s final 4 points and went on to post a 25 to 19 win of set 2.
Set 3 had St. Agnes falling behind once again. Chadron raced out to a lead of 8 to 2 before a kill by Breen stopped the rally. A point from Jelinek pulled SA to within 5 but the teams would trade points with the Cards maintaining their advantage. Down 3 to 7, St. Agnes made one last surge. Kills by Armstrong and points from Shrewsbury and Shelmadine made things interesting with the score board reading 14 to 11 in favor of the Cardinals. The match finished with Chadron scoring the final point as the Cards took set three 15 to 11.
CHAD 22 25 15
SA 25 19 11
Stats Armstrong 9 kills 7 points Breen 9 kills 1 point Shrewsbury 5 points Jelinek 6 points Dudden 4 points Shelmadine 6 points 1 kill.