The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers swept the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals in volleyball action in Waterville tonight. Scores were 25-11, 25-18, 25-17.

In pirate terms "old salt" is a sailor with a great deal of experience on the seas.  The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers have multiple experienced players back from a team that was the runner-up in Class A State Tournament action last November.

It definitely showed in the match.  The Bucs rolled in the first set primarily because the Cardinals had no answer for Toryn Richards and Kylie Pittman.  The senior outside hitters just soar so high above the net it's nearly impossible to block them.  Richards had 8 kills in the first set when 5 WEM players had more than one kill.

WEM had a few mistakes creep in toward the end of the set or Bethlehem Academy would not have had double digit points.

The beauty of volleyball unlike many other sports is you get to start over in the next set and whatever Cardinals Head Coach Chris Bothun said to her team they looked and played much different in the second set.  In fact they led most of the first half of the set.

The Buccaneers however came from behind and once they got the lead they know how to finish a set.  Pittman had four consecutive service aces to end the second set and according to the official WEM statistics finished the night with 10 ace serves of the 13 total for the team.  She added 12 kills.

Richards had 19 kills in the three set match and double digit digs. Senior setter Ellie Ready was credited with 50 assists.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown jumped out to a quick lead in the final set also controlling the ball most of the set.

Bethlehem Academy was limited offensively to 17 total kills according to my unofficial tally.  Senior Kennedy Tutak and sophomore Kate Trump led the way with 5 kills each.

Tutak was our Malecha's Auto Body Player of the Match for Faribault because she was the most efficient on offense for the Cardinals for players with close to double digit swings.

I had just 17 kills in the three sets for BA to show how little offense they were able to generate in the match.

WEM Homecoming is next week with all the Queen candidates members of the volleyball team.  Lindsay Condon, Kylie Pittman, Ellie Ready, Allison Rients, Autumn Taylor.

The King candidates are Griffin Atherton, Ethan Bartelt, Levi Bowman, Derek Hermel, Corey McKenna.

Coronation is Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 7:15 p.m. in the High School Gym.  Two spectators are allowed per candidate.

Bethlehem Academy travels to Blooming Prairie Tuesday for a match that will be on KDHL Radio, 920 AM.

The Buccaneers play Monday night at Maple River with the varsity starting 7:15 p.m.

WEM vs BA National Anthem Lineup. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
WEM vs BA National Anthem Lineup. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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