The Cardinal volleyball players were battling sickness as well as opponents this past week. With players out from the flu, the lineup saw some younger players p i cking up the slack.

Both games last week were home events in the Staples Motley gym.

The Staples Motley girls faced the Braves from Menahga Sept. 29 in an exciting, close game that went to five matches. In the first match the Cardinals downed the Braves 25-16. Although Menahga won the next match, Staples Motley stayed close falling 25-22 to make the game 1-1.

The Cards took the third match, but lost the fourth to throw the contest into a tie-breaker. Unfortunately, that's where it ended, when the girls from Menahga reached 15 points, while the Cardinals had just three.

Ashley Miles had 24 set assists, while fellow senior Lonna Dumprope recorded five digs and five ace serves and Kelly Pearson put down five kills and four blocks.

Two days later the Cards faced the always challenging Bertha-Hewitt Bears in a non-conference game. The Bears proved to be some tough opposition, blanking the Cardinals in three; winning 25-15, 26-24 and 25-13. Miles again recorded some nice sets, putting up 14 assists, while sisters Nikki and Kelly Pearson were a good asset to have at the net, with Nikki recording eight blocks and Kelly seven. Nikki also put down ten kills over the course of the night.

Up and down Abby Smith went high with Cardinal teammate Nikki Pearson down low. The girls were hosting the Bertha Hewitt Bears Thursday, Oct. 1. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) This week the Cardinal girls are at home Thursday facing the Crosby-Ironton Rangers in a Mid State Conference match up. Saturday they will hit the road for a tourney in Perham. Tuesday the girls will host Detroit Lakes.

Volleyball results

Sept. 29

Menahga 3, SM 2

SM 25-16; 22-25; 25-22; 18-15; 3-15.

Lonna Dumprope: 5 digs, 5 ace serves

Autumn Murray: 2 kills, 2 set assists, 1 block, 1 ace serve

Abby Smith: 3 set assists, 1 block, 2 ace serves, 4 digs, 4 kills

Kelli Roline: 4 kills, 1 ace serve

Nikki Pearson: 7 blocks, 1 ace serve, 19 kills

Up high Nikki Pearson went airborne on this powerful spike attempt against the Bears from Bertha Hewitt. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) Kelly Pearson: 5 kills, 2 set assists, 4 blocks

Jennifer Vasquez: 2 digs

Ashley Miles: 3 kills, 3 digs, 24 set assists

Bertha-Hewitt 3, Staples Motley 0

B-H 25-15; 26-24; 25-13

Lonna Dumprope: 1 set assist, 2 digs

Autumn Murray: 5 blocks, 1 kill

Kelli Roline: 3 blocks, 1 ace serve, 1 kill

Nikki Pearson: 8 blocks, 1 ace serve, 1 dig, 10 kills

Kelly Pearson: 7 blocks, 4 kills

Jennifer Vasquez: 2 blocks, 1 dig, 2 kills

Ashley Miles: 14 set assists, 1 ace serve, 1 dig, 1 kill

Senay Miner: 2 blocks, 1 kill Miranda LeGendre: 1 ace serve