HTC goes into post-season with sweep at MEPO

MEDIAPOLIS — Holy Trinity’s volleyball team swept its three matches at Thursday’s quadrangular at Mediapolis High School to end the regular season.
It was also a chance for coach Melissa Freesmeier to look at the lineup that the Crusaders will take into the postseason.
Holy Trinity (27-6), ranked fifth in Class 1A, swept its matches with Mediapolis, Fort Madison, and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, playing without freshman Kymber Jones, who will miss the postseason because of an illness.
Jones, a middle hitter, was third on the team with 83 kills. With her out, Freesmeier moved Brynn Denning, the team’s libero, into Jones’ spot, and Denning responded with 14 kills and 36 digs.
“We had to change some things up,” Freesmeier said. “So this is the first time we played this lineup, and so the kids were kind of getting used to each other and seeing what the challenges would be. But you know, I thought they were gritty and I thought they held it together and did some really really good things.”
It’s not the first time this year Freesmeier had to make adjustments — the Crusaders went from a 6-2 to a 5-1 attack when Calli Kruse was out with a knee injury.
“This group of kids is resilient,” Freesmeier said. “They miss (Jones). I mean, she's a great teammate. She's a great player. She's a great kid. But now we’ve got to play for her. Fortunately we’ve got kids who can step up and play her spot. We wish she could be here with us, but we know we’ve got to play for her now.”
Denning was a perfect 26 of 26 hitting. She was also 21 of 22 serving with two aces.
Senior hitter Adalyn Kruse led the Crusaders with 34 kills and had four blocks.
“Adalyn stepped up and did what she needed to do,” Freesmeier said.
Holy Trinity opens Class 1A regional play on Wednesday at home against the winner of Monday’s match between Moravia and New London.

Fort Madison (14-16) went 1-2 on the night in its final matches before the postseason, defeating EBF after losing to Holy Trinity and Mediapolis.
The Bloodhounds were coming off a third-place finish in the Southeast Conference tournament.
“Every time we come here it seems like we have a mental block, so it was good to get that win leaving here,” Fort Madison coach Kelly Knustrom said. “Eddyville has good hitters, and they pass well and serve well, so to get a win against them really helps us.
“The conference tournament didn’t go as well as we wanted. But we were happy with how we played and we did some good things. We didn’t execute tonight against Mediapolis and Holy Trinity, but we were able to get a win, and it was good practice for what’s to come.”
Fort Madison opens Class 4A regional play on Tuesday at home against Keokuk.
HOLY TRINITY STATISTICS
Kills — Adalyn Kruse 34, Kate Pieper 15, Brynn Denning 14, Olivia Bendlage 13, Makayla Simpson 4, Elizabeth Griffin 3, Calli Kruse 1.
Serving — Bendlage 44-45 (4 aces), A.Kruse 21-21 (2), Denning 21-22 (2), E.Griffin 21-23 (2), Pieper 14-15, C.Kruse 10-12, Layne Schmitt 6-6, Faith Ward 2-2.
Digs — Denning 36, A.Kruse 31, Bendlage 25, C.Kruse 19, Pieper 18, E.Griffin 12, Simpson 4, Schmitt 1, Ward 1, Madisyn Griffin 1.
Assists — E.Griffin 74, A.Kruse 4, Denning 1.
Blocks — A.Kruse 4, Pieper 2, E.Griffin 1