Lady Cardinals blown away by Blue Storm

By JASON VIOX\Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area Lady Cardinals volleyball team had several chances to win their match against the Southwestern Illinois Blue Storm, but Mineral Area came up short. Southwest Illinois won the match in five games 30-16, 28-30, 24-30, 30-28, and 15-13.

The Lady Cardinals struggled defensively in the first game, and Blue Storm took full advantage. A kill by Chrissy Stitch and an ace by Kari Buehlhorn boosted Illinois to a 9-2 lead. A kill by Alison Henry and Stitch, and an ace by Dee Miesner gave the Blue Storm 14-3 edge. Errors by Mineral Area helped Southwest Illinois to a 21-6 advantage.

Lauren Voss smashed down a pair of kills to place the Blue Storm one point away from victory in game one. Three mistakes by Southwestern Illinois and a kill by Mineral Area's Cassidy Wisdom slightly narrowed the deficit, but a double-hit call on the Lady Cardinals ended game one.

“In the first game, we came out pretty much in concrete,” commented MAC coach Tim Copeland. “We didn't do a whole lot. We just stood around and they (Southwestern Illinois) just picked us apart.”

Mineral Area showed a lot of improvement in the second contest. Three kills by Monika Jaroszewicz helped the Lady Cardinals to a 6-3 lead. Southwestern Illinois came back to tie the game, but Mineral Area picked up a 14-10 edge on a couple of kills by Chaumone Robinson-Streater, and one by Lora Dickey and Tiara Boyer. The Blue Storm later took a 24-22 lead on a kill and a block by Voss.

Southwestern Illinois held a 28-25 advantage, but three kills by Dickey sparked a five-point run as both teams headed for game No. 3.

The Lady Cardinals got off to a good start on an ace by Boyer and two by Jaroszewicz which gave Mineral Area an 8-4 lead. The Lady Cardinals took a 17-13 edge on another ace by Jaroszewicz. A kill by Voss and a tip by Miesner narrowed the lead to 21-19, but Mineral Area managed to maintain their lead. Two kills by Boyer and Jaroszewicz, and one by Wisdom and Dickey put game three to a close.

The Lady Cardinals picked up an 11-8 edge on a kill by Boyer and an error by the Blue Storm in game four. Boyer later added another kill, and Mineral Area led 19-15. Southwestern Illinois went on a five-point run with three straight kills to take a 25-24 edge. Both teams tied the contest four more times before a kill by Voss and a double block forced one final game.

Mistakes by the Blue Storm handed the Lady Cardinals a 6-3 lead. Southwestern Illinois clawed their way back and tied the game at 10 apiece on kill by Voss and Shelbe Farrar. Voss later fired down another powerful shot to give her team a 12-10 lead. One kill by Kristen Schmidt and a double block by Randi Tyler and Miesner concluded the match.

“We regrouped a little bit, and then we started to play defense,” stated Copeland. “If we can play defense, we can play pretty much anybody, and that's what we have to do.”

Jaroszewicz and Wisdom led the Lady Cardinals in kills with 15 each, and Boyer chipped in 12. Wisdom also came up with 36 digs, and libero Jessica Murdick finished with 34.

Mineral Area (27-16) will visit West Plains on Monday.