VOLLEYBALL: Lumberjacks stay close, but drop season opener to Rochester Mayo

HOPKINS - The Bemidji High School volleyball team dropped its first match of the season 3-0 to Section 1-3A champions Rochester Mayo in three close sets at the Side Out Classic Saturday.
The Lumberjacks (0-1) lost 26-24, 26-24 and 25-19 to the Spartans (1-0) at the yearly invitational which showcases the best teams in the state of Minnesota.
“It was a tough one to start our season,” BHS head coach Teresa Colligan said. “We knew that going in.”
Bemidji and Mayo traded points in the first set with neither team taking a bigger set lead than two points. The Spartans used a timeout with the Lumberjacks up 22-20 and outscored Bemidji 6-2 from then on out.
In set two, Mayo controlled most of the set with a four point leads of 14-10, 19-15 and 21-17, but the Jacks battled back.
Bemidji tied the set 24-24, but the Spartans scored the final two points to claim another set.
The Lumberjacks went up 14-13 in the third set before Mayo took the final game by outscoring Bemidji 12-5 to finish the sweep.
“We had our moments where we looked amazing,” Colligan said. “But we let them get on runs. We would let down and we’d have some net errors or hit the ball out-of-bounds.”
Seniors Brylee Colligan and Emily Falldorf led the way with seven kills each. Colligan also led the team with two blocks while Falldorf led with three service aces.
Senior Kate Buckanaga directed the offense with 12 assists and also led the team with 11 digs on the receiving side of the net while. Fellow senior Heather Olson and sophomore Addie Colligan each had seven assists. Colligan added two aces as did Buckanaga.
“We didn’t play as comfortable as we can,” Colligan said. “We weren’t totally in sync. We were a little hesitant, but I think we can fix that.”
The Lumberjacks will look to have their game smoothed out by 7:15 p.m. Thursday when the team visits Detroit Lakes.
“Defensively we need to pick it up,” Colligan said. “More than anything that’s what we need to work on.”