GACC wins first two matches of Mid-State Conference Tournament

The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Bluejays are 2-0 at the Mid-State Conference Tournament so far, knocking off Wayne 3-1 at Pierce on Monday, and Hartington Cedar Catholic 3-0 in Battle Creek on Tuesday.

GACC lost set one to the Blue Devils 25-17, but bounced back to win set two 25-21, set three 25-23, and set four 25-22.

Maddie Knobbe recorded 14 kills, 10 blocks, and 9 digs while Riley Throener had 10 kills. Ally Plagge notched 18 digs while Lisa Gatzemeyer totaled 13. Kali Stratman added 9 digs and 28 set assists.

The Bluejays won set one over the Trojans 25-19, and took set two 25-18, and set three 25-15.

Knobbe paced GACC (14-9) with 19 kills and 7 digs while Tessa Simonsen registered 8 digs. Stratman dished out 20 set assists.

Head Coach Kate Hagemann.

"Done a really nice job the last couple weeks of finishing sets, and that's something we didn't do very well early in the season and why some of those wins got away from us, but we found  a way the last couple of weeks and that's great for our confidence."

The Bluejays were seeded 6th, but play Crofton (20-4) for the championship at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Battle Creek.

"As a coach you tell them everyday just get a little bit better, and let's play our best volleyball at the end of the season. And we've gone through some ups and downs, and they're finding their stride right now, and playing with a lot of confidence. So I'm really happy for them. And after the game I said what do we think and they said we're going to find a way to win it on Thursday too." Hagemann said.

The Warriors just swept GACC 3-0 in Crofton a couple of weeks back.

Hagemann says things won't be easy.

"It'll be tough, it's going to be a battle, but this team, we're capable of doing it if we just keep improving."

I agree with that statement 100%. I think the Bluejays are playing at whole new level right now, and have turned the corner.

Crofton beat Pierce 3-1 on Tuesday to punch their ticket to Thursday's championship match.

GACC appears to have a lot of confidence right now. Saying they're going to find a way to win on Thursday shows how much this team believes in themselves.

It's amazing...the Bluejays have had some uncharacteristic struggles and losses this season, yet here they are at the end of the regular season playing their best volleyball.

GACC really couldn't ask for much more right now. The Bluejays have a chance to win the Mid-State Conference Tournament despite all the losses they've compiled this season.

I agree with the players in that GACC is going to win it on Thursday. I think the Bluejays are going to find a way to get the job done.

This is no disrespect at all to the Warriors because Crofton is a great team, but I don't know of many teams in Classes C-2 through D-2 that could beat GACC right now the way they are playing.

Confidence leads to success, and this Bluejays' team is about as confident as any volleyball team in the area right now.

GACC has to feel pretty darn good about themselves if they can beat the Warriors on Thursday.