CANDO — The North Star Bearcats continued their early-season roll Thursday night.
North Star (7-1-1), recently ranked No. 6 in Class B, swept the Hatton/Northwood Thunder (1-7) in front of their home fans. The Bearcats allowed fewer than 20 points in each set, cruising their way to another win amidst a strong start to the season.
“I think our positivity, and the fact that our girls are having so much fun, makes us tough,” North Star head coach Kirstin Ahlberg said. “Because we move so much faster when we’re communicating. And when you have fun, and you’re loving what you do, you just do it that much better.”
Set 1: North Star 25, Hatton/Northwood 12 (1-0 Bearcats)
The Bearcats trailed 2-0 to start, but quickly took control and never let go.
Karlee Gefroh slammed back-to-back aces that put North Star ahead. The Bearcats went on a 9-1 run to build a 13-4 lead, fueled by errors and two more aces by Avery Elsperger.
“I thought we came out strong and attacking,” Ahlberg said. “They did what I asked them to do. I asked them to serve in, and serve tough. And to come out and pass the ball. And they came to that challenge.”
The Thunder trimmed the lead as tight as 15-9, but North Star finished off the set in commanding fashion. Mattea Wanzek came up with a pair of crafty kills, tapping it softly into the perfect spot.
Elsperger’s third service winner of the set completed the 25-12 blowout.
Set 2: North Star 25, Hatton/Northwood 16 (2-0 Bearcats)
The teams were more even to start the next set, locked in ties of 3-3 and 7-7.
But after holding a timeout, North Star took off again. The Bearcats won five straight points, which included blocks by Jorie Ahlberg and Annabelle Staus. The Thunder narrowed the gap to 12-10, but a 5-0 run put North Star back up 18-11.
Staus secured the Bearcats’ final two points with a kill and a block. Staus had the most kills overall, with six. Anna Bessonova had five, and Wanzek had four.
Set 3: North Star 25, Hatton/Northwood 18 (3-0 Bearcats)
The final set started fairly evenly again, with the teams tied at 5-5. North Star edged ahead, then shot forward with a 4-0 run that gave the Bearcats a 12-8 lead.
The Thunder sliced the lead to 13-12, and Bessonova slammed a kill. H/N tied it at 14-14.
But the Bearcats’ biggest run yet, an 8-0 stretch, all but sealed the deal on the victory. Elsperger smacked three more aces, giving her nine on the night. Gefroh finished with three aces.
A kill by Bessonova finished off the three-set sweep.
“Volleyball is a huge team sport where no one person can take over the game,” Ahlberg said. “And these girls work together very, very hard, and they know that.”
North Star is back at home again on Tuesday against Our Redeemer’s.
