Two traditional volleyball powers in the state faced each other at Van Orsow Auditorium  in Faribault Bethlehem Academy High School on Tuesday night.

When the match was complete, the Cardinals came away with a sweep of the Tigers by scores of 25-14, 25-19, 25-21.

During warmups, Bethlehem Academy junior middle hitter Meagan Donahue was injured while working on a slide hit when she banged her lower leg against the leg of the officials' stand.

Donahue was on her side apparently in a lot of pain and Faribault Fire and Rescue arrived first with a stretcher and then North Ambulance Paramedics loaded her on the stretcher and took her to the hospital.

Coaches said Donahue evidently broke both bones in her lower leg. This was Teddy Bridgewater-like. An injury while practicing, not in the heat of a match.

After the long delay, both teams were given some time to warm up again and the match got started about an hour late.

Any concern about the Cardinals being unable to focus with one of their teammates heading to the hospital ended early. Bethlehem Academy came out on fire, with Mary Campbell in particular crushing kill after kill thanks to some crisp passing and nice sets.

Then it was like someone flipped a switch and even though the Cardinals got the sweep, coach Franz Boelter told me he was not pleased with the setting. Setting should be a strength of this team with the Cardinals running what I call a hybrid three-setter offense.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance Agents Faribault players of the match were Mary Campbell, Payton Nutter and Delaney Donahue. The feature is a service of Faribault State Farm Agents Tony Langerud and Jason Krohn.

Stewartville's legendary head coach John Dzubay told me before the match very poor serving cost them in their season opener against Rochester John Marshall.

It reared it's ugly head again Tuesday night. The Tigers had 10 service errors in the three-set match.

Bethlehem Academy, another tradition rich volleyball team, plays Thursday when Southwest Christian comes to Faribault, then they go to a tournament in Shakopee on Saturday.

Stewartville hosts Hayfield on Thursday and is at the Apple Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Van Orsow Auditorium Faribault- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Van Orsow Auditorium Faribault- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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