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Knights stay perfect in District 12

ORCS volleyball fends off an MLS comeback attempt

Justin Martinez/MDN Freshman Cheyenne Lang tips the ball over the net and past a Mavericks blocker in Our Redeemer's Christian School's match against Mohall/Lansford/Sherwood on Thursday.

After cruising through the first two sets, the Our Redeemer’s volleyball team got a rude awakening.

The Knights got tested at home on Thursday against Mohall/Lansford/Sherwood, fighting off a late Mavericks comeback to get a hard-earned 3-1 win. ORCS moves to 5-0 in District 12 play this season.

“It’s how we finish the match that’s important,” ORCS head coach Kara Nunziato said. “I’m just really impressed with the leadership of our team and our girls’ ability to control the tempo.”

The Knights looked to be in complete control in the first set with Annie Folden patrolling the net. The Mavericks had no answer for the junior middle hitter, as she recorded a pair of blocks en route to a 25-18 win.

Things got even more out of hand for MLS in the second set as the Knights kicked things off with a soul-crushing 19-1 run thanks in part to Tessa Olson. The senior libero delivered 19 consecutive serves, and her teammates did the rest.

MLS couldn’t seem to keep the ball from hitting the court as each play started with an Olson serve and ended in either an ORCS kill or block. With the momentum completely on their side, the Knights finished the set off for a 25-7 win.

“That run was fun,” Olson said. “It’s always nice when you can get some good serves in, and everyone contributed to keep it going.”

But the Mavericks weren’t ready to go home just yet. MLS caught the Knights in a funk after some substitutions, launching a 9-4 run down the stretch to pull off a 26-24 victory.

The shocking win silenced the once-electrified home crowd as the Mavericks attempted to mount the epic comeback.

“I think it was a wakeup call for us,” Olson said. “It showed that we have to earn every point, and we have to keep pushing ourselves if we want to win.”

Our Redeemer’s came out in the fourth set with a renewed sense of urgency, exploding for a 10-2 run that got the crowd back into the match and left the Mavericks reeling.

The Knights never gave MLS a chance to recover as ORCS earned the wire-to-wire win, 25-13, to finish the match.

“(MLS) played really scrappy today,” Nunziato said. “But I think the girls did a nice job of coming back in that fourth set and playing the game of volleyball the way we like to play.”

Folden ended the day with seven kills and three blocks, while Olson totaled 25 digs to go along with four aces.

The season rolls on for the Knights as they now hit the road to take on Surrey on Tuesday at 7 p.m. With just four games remaining on the Knights’ regular season schedule, every game is a crucial opportunity to build momentum as they prepare for the postseason.

For Olson, one of the four seniors on the team, finishing strong is especially important.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet that its almost over,” Olson said. “But right now I just want to help the team and enjoy every moment.”

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.

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