MACA girls turn back Minnewaska 3-0

Tigers 3, 'Waska 0

Bump, set, spike! We're into the new season of prep volleyball. MACA has had an off-and-on start. Fans got to see the "on" aspect on Tuesday (9/2) when the outcome was a (sweet) sweep win. The Tigers took charge vs. Minnewaska Area at 'Waska.

Kayla Pring was precise at the net, going a perfect 21 of 21 in hitting (good/attempts) and notching nine kills. Lacee Maanum posted 29/35 in G/A and slammed down ten kills. Brooke Gillespie was a force too with 30 of 35 stats and ten kills. Haley Erdahl went eight-for-ten with two kills, and Tracy Meichsner was 6/7 with one kill.

All that spiking elevated Morris Area Chokio Alberta to this sweep win by scores of 25-22, 25-15 and 25-19.

Maanum went up to execute three ace blocks. Gillespie had two, and Meichsner and Karly Fehr one each. Fehr facilitated the hitting with her 24 set assists.

Now we come to digs where Kourtney Giese had 15, Gillespie 14 and Fehr seven. And, let's not forget serving: Gillespie powered two ace serves at the Lakers and was 11/13 in good/attempts. Erdahl was a perfect 17/17 with one ace. Pring added an ace serve to the winning mix.

Ariel Ostrander powered the 'Waska attack with her 12 kills on 39 of 45 in G/A, plus she had an ace block. Taylor Amundson of 'Waska had 18 set assists.

 

Football: Melrose 14, Tigers 6

Yours truly stopped by Big Cat Stadium shortly before halftime of the season opener. Things looked pretty bleak for MACA. Not only that, the game seemed boring.

Halftime arrived with the Melrose Dutchmen up 6-0. The score was 14-0 after three quarters. A big crowd was on hand, so it was unfortunate the Tigers couldn't get their offensive engines humming. Finally the Tigers scored in the final quarter but it was no-go for the conversion. So, the Dutchmen went home happy, gliding along I-94 going east, owners of a 14-6 opener win.

It's back to the drawing board for our orange and black crew. We'll be on the road Friday (9/5) vs. Montevideo. MACA fans seemed optimistic going into this season. They'll surely want to see a little more offensive productivity.

Trent Wulf scored the lone MACA touchdown Friday on a 19-yard run. The PAT kick try went awry. Wulf looked productive on the night as he covered 128 yards rushing the football, on 19 carries. Isaac Wente carried for 57 yards in 13 carries. Austin Hills contributed 19 yards on four carries.
Trent Marty had some trouble completing passes but he got good mileage from his completions: He was four of 14 for 84 yards and had one picked off. Noah Grove had two of the pass receptions for 23 yards. Olson and Wulf had the other two catches.

Grove handled the team's punting. Wente was a tackle chart standout with nine solos, four assists.

Blake Gerads scored both of the Melrose touchdowns. He caught a 29-yard TD pass from Matthew Beste, and another scoring aerial from Beste covering seven yards. Beste ran for two after the second touchdown. Back when I covered the Tigers for the Morris newspaper in 1973, I remember an area quarterback named Loren Beste, quite good as I recall. I think he played for Sauk Centre and wore No. 7.

Zach Pierskalla rushed for 82 yards for Melrose, on 21 carries.

Beste had passing stats roughly comparable to Marty's: five of 12 for 64 yards but no interceptions. Turnovers will haunt! Pierskalla had the interception for Melrose.

Boy, it sure looks like football is retaining its popularity despite all the revelations about the health consequences of the sport. Big Cat Stadium seemed most full and festive. I'm not sure we should be happy about that. I'd rather see soccer pick up steam as a sport.

But, we're into a new year of fall athletics at MACA now, so the attitude should be "full speed ahead!" Don't look for the newspaper to provide award-winning coverage.

- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com