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Bulldogs outlast Gaels

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Josie Huss of St. Edmond hits the ball over the net in the Gael gym.

Hampton-Dumont found a recipe to stop the St. Edmond volleyball team here on Thursday, but the Gaels nearly turned the tables in the end.

The Bulldogs (9-11 overall, 2-4 in the North Central Conference) turned back St. Edmond (15-12, 2-4) in a thrilling five-set victory.

Hampton-Dumont won the first and third games, 25-20 and 25-17 respectively. St. Edmond won games two and four, 25-21 and 25-23.

After a quick 5-2 start in Game 5, the Bulldogs pulled out the victory with a 15-9 triumph.

With the lack of size, the Bulldogs used small ball with drop hits in the middle to knock off the Gaels.

“We started out strong, but we just let the small ball get to us,” said SEHS head coach Dee Huss. “We played a rollercoaster match. We let small mistakes build and turn into big ones.

“We have a few girls that are not healthy, and we’re trying to ride it out until the postseason.”

Hampton-Dumont looked to close out Game 4 with a hot 12-6 start, but the Gaels wouldn’t go away. St. Edmond went on a 7-1 run to tie the game at 13-13.

With the game tied at 19-19, the Gaels put together another four-point rally led by the serving of Josie Huss.

The Bulldogs closed the door to 24-23, but Hannah Huss shut the door with a thunderous kill. Huss tallied seven kills in Game 4.

After scoring five of the first seven points in Game 5, the Bulldogs came back with five straight and built a 12-8 lead before winning the contest.

“We have to learn to make adjustments,” Huss said. “They’re a scrappy team, but we have to take the team approach and not worry about ‘me’ and do what is best for the team.

“We need everyone clicking. We can’t expect one or two players to carry the team.”

This is the third time this season the Gaels have pushed a match to five games. They lost to Algona and beat Clear Lake.

Hampton-Dumont, who has won two straight, is 1-1 in five set matches, losing to Webster City.

Hannah Huss finished the night with 24 kills. Josie Huss tallied nine kills. Hannah Schaeffer, Livi Huss and Erin Flattery registered five kills each.

Josie Huss was 18-for-19 with three assists. Macey Mason was 13-for-14 serving with two aces. Flattery was a perfect 8 of 8.

Livi Huss finished with 44 assists.

The St. Edmond freshman team won, 21-9 and 21-11. The junior varsity squad lost 21-19 and 21-17.

St. Edmond is back in action on Thursday when they host North Central Conference foe Humboldt on Senior Night in the Gael gym. Action is set for 7:30 p.m.

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