HTC ready for fourth straight trip to state tourney

FORT MADISON - Holy Trinity always has the same routine during the postseason.
It starts with Christmas music — the most wonderful time of the year, coach Melissa Freesmeier said — and it ends in late October or early November at the state tournament.
The Crusaders are back for their fourth consecutive pursuit of a Class 1A championship when they begin state tournament play at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Holy Trinity (29-12), the third seed in the 1A bracket, will face sixth seed BCLUW (31-10) at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, the last match of the day in the tournament.
“It’s great,” Freesmeier said after last Wednesday’s three-set sweep of Calamus-Wheatland in the regional final. “Never gets old.
“It’s a new team every year. I tell these kids, ‘This isn’t my time. This is your time. This is your time.’”
The Crusaders reached the championship match last year before losing to top seed Ankeny Christian. For those who return, getting back has been a motivation.
And now they’re back.
Same routine, same formula — a team that has great individual players, yet is a sum of its parts. It’s why, in the post-game interviews after Holy Trinity’s three regional tournament wins, Freesmeier always gives an answer that is a checklist of everyone’s role in the win.
It is a checklist of success. A look at the seven players who have played in every match for the Crusaders this season:
Anna Bendlage — The senior has been going to the state tournament every year, and she knows what one more trip means.
“It’s just so fun,” she said. “I mean, the crowds, the environment, being with your team. It’s just everything. It’s so fun — it’s an amazing way to end your season.”
Bendlage leads the Crusaders with 556 assists, but she also has 141 kills. Her court awareness makes her dangerous when she’s near the net, because of her misdirection tips that can find holes in the defense.
She’s the team’s best server at 97.2 percent, with a team-high 44 aces.
Teagan Snaadt — The senior libero is another state tournament veteran.
“Making it there four years in a row, it doesn’t happen very often,” Snaadt said. “Being back (to the tournament) after how it ended last year feels really good.”
Snaadt led the Crusaders with 415 digs this season, but she was also one of the team’s best servers, ranking second in percentage behind Bendlage.

Presley Myers — It’s hard to consider Myers a junior, because she’s been a mainstay at middle hitter in the Crusaders’ lineup since she was a freshman.
Like the seniors, she is quite familiar with the state tournament atmosphere.
“It’s awesome,” Myers said of another opportunity to pursue a championship. “I’ve gone to state the last three years with Anna and Teagan, and it’s a great feeling to get a chance to do it again.”
Myers, a middle hitter, led the Crusaders with 337 kills and 81 blocks, and added 119 digs.
Adalyn Kruse — The step between a freshman and sophomore season can be big, and a summer of club play has helped Kruse become one of the top outside hitters in Class 1A.
Kruse, the Superconference South Division’s player of the year, was second on the Crusaders with 300 kills, and was second in digs with 346. 
Last year’s state tournament, in a bigger arena, was an education for Kruse.
“The depth perception at Xtream Arena is so much different than our gym,” Kruse said. “I’m going to be used to that this year.”
Olivia Bendlage — The freshman outside hitter delivered the final kill in the regional final, capping off a strong first season.
Bendlage had 134 kills this season. She was fourth on the team with 292 digs, and third with a 92.8 percent serving percentage.
Bendlage has watched her sisters Mary Kate and Anna play at state, and now she gets her first opportunity.
“It means a lot to be a part of this team,” she said after the regional final. “I’m really looking forward to next week.”
Elizabeth Griffin — The sophomore played in two varsity matches this season, but has started every match this season.
Freesmeier said of Griffin, “She’s just there,” the perfect compliment and description on what Griffin has meant to the Crusaders.
Griffin came up with big plays all season, ranking third on the team with 309 digs, while adding 261 assists and 65 kills. She was fourth on the team with a 90.8 percent serving percentage, but she was second with 40 aces.
Emma Mohrfeld — Mohrfeld was another player whose role had a big expansion this season.
Mohrfeld played in every match this season, finishing with 57 kills. She was second on the team with 30 blocks and 39 digs.
“Emma’s done a great job in the middle for us and she’s really grown into that position,” Freesmeier said.