Lake Mills vies for 9th straight NIC title

LAKE MILLS, Iowa — Few are surprised the No. 3-ranked Lake Mills volleyball team is 28-0 this season, but nobody expected the team to have not lost a set in the process.

After winning the Bishop-Garrigan Tournament in Algona, Iowa, over the weekend, the Bulldogs have now won 63 consecutive sets to start the season. The team came close to recording its first blemish of the year in the finals against Clarion, but the Bulldogs survived winning 25-9 and 26-24.

The Bulldogs put its perfect season on the line at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lake Mills against its biggest rival — the Forest City Indians (13-4). The Indians return Tabith Blaser, a left-side hitter who was named First-Team North Iowa All-Conference last season and Amanda Busta, who was key to the team last year.

Bulldogs coach Jim Boehmer said the Bulldogs must be able to handle the Indians’ aggressive serving led by Blaser and Busta.

“If we can handle their serves we will have an advantage,” Boehmer said. “If we can’t, look for them to go on four- to five-point runs and that will doom us.

“Blaser will get her kills. Busta will get a few kills. If we can slow Blaser and Busta and limit their points we have the advantage. That’s a big if.”

Boehmer said his biggest concern though is how his team will react to potential set loss.

“It is great that we are 63-0 in sets, but it is bad if we are not prepared to handle it if we drop a set,” he said. “We are a very competitive team and we don’t want to lose a set, but we also have to realize it doesn’t mean anything as long as you win three sets before your opponent.”

Boehmer said one set is like a quarter in basketball or football.

“Just because someone outscores us in one ‘quarter’ we can’t fold,” he said.

The senior duo of Josie Brackey and Morgan Fjelstad are again leading the way for the Bulldogs. Brackey, a senior outside hitter and reigning Tribune Player of the Year, ranks sixth in the state with 238 kills this season. Fjelstad, the team’s setter and defending North Iowa Conference Player of the Year, ranks 12th in the state with 484 assists.

“We have been playing well as a team,” Boehmer said. “I like our fire in matches against solid teams. We have risen to the occasion all year and need to do it again tomorrow night. It should be a great night for high school volleyball.”

The Bulldogs and Indians are both undefeated in the North Iowa Conference and the winner will be crowned the regular season champion. The Bulldogs have won the NIC for eight consecutive seasons.