Cardinals win third match in three games against RV

The Cardinals went head to head with the Redwood Valley Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 31, in Luverne and prevailed in three games, 3-0.
If there were a theme to the night’s match, it would be the No. 3 and “come back kids. The Luverne Cardinals volleyball team won their third match in three straight games, winning by three points or fewer, coming from behind in each game. 
Luverne put the first two points on the board in Game 1 but quickly fell to an eight-point deficit. 
Slowly the Cardinals inched their way up on the scoreboard with Trista Baustian setting up Christina Wagner for a kill, along with a series of Redwood Valley errors. 
Luverne tied the game when Elise Ferrell delivered a light tap with the ball touching the net but falling on Redwood's side. 
After that, it was alternating points on the scoreboard until Anja Jarchow and Ferrell delivered successive kills to put the game at 25-24.  Redwood delivered a serve that looked like it was out but landed on the edge to tie at 25. 
Needing two more points for the win, Luverne received a back row attack by Macy Stratton and a kill by Ferrell to seal Game 1 27-25.
 Redwood Valley came back in Game 2 with a seven-point lead. 
The energy shifted when Jarchow and Ferrell teamed up to block Redwood three times in a row.  The duo of Wagner and Kamryn Van Batavia went to work, each delivering a light tap over the net. Then Wagner put up a solo block, followed with another alongside Van Batavia, making the game even.
Luverne would go on to win Game 2 25-22 after four kills by Ferrell, one by Morgan Ahrendt and another by Baustian.
Needing to win Game 3 to stay alive, Redwood came out determined, eventually putting Luverne behind by six points. 
Re-energized after a time-out, Luverne fought back with a kill by Ahrendt and three kills by Baustian to put them at close range. A block by Wagner and subsequent kill by Ahrendt tied the game. 
Not giving up, Redwood continued to attack until Luverne gained the upper hand with Ahrendt and Jarchow trading a series of five kills. 
Within one point of the win, a nail-biting volley between the two teams ended with a surprise tap over the net by Baustian to secure Game 3 25-22 and the 3-0 win for Luverne.
Throughout the match defenders Carly Olson and Macy Stratton played an alert back row, helping Luverne remain undefeated.
 
Stat Highlights:
Serves:  Reghan Bork 20/20 with 3 Aces; Macy Stratton 13/13
Digs:  Carly Olson 23; Macy Stratton 16
Set Assists: Trista Baustian 15; Reghan Bork 9
Blocks:  Morgan Ahrendt 1 solo and 3 assists
Attacks:  Elise Ferrell 8 kills; Morgan Ahrendt 7 kills