alexandriacardinals

October 21

[Applefest, the annual follow-on to Grape Stomp – unfortunately, with similar weather this year. Nevertheless, we had great geographic representation with couples from the Cities, Ashby, and Aberdeen, SD, and before we could all get a table together, we horned in on a couple from Ottertail. We all enjoyed the musical stylings of Erik Schultz . . . ]

There will be a video from each of the performers, though not recorded on this day . . . 

[The group, et al . . . ]

[Charlie Roth and Deanna Paulzine – it was our first time with Deanna, and we thought she and Charlie terrific together.  And, as we had discovered earlier, Deanna and Lisa Lynn (you know her if you follow this blog) are roommmates in St. Cloud (or its immediate environs).]

[And neither last nor least, the ever popular Cheese Bots . . . ]

[At the end, winery owner Tami Bredeson came out for Trip to Napa drawing . . . but surprisingly the Super didn’t win this time?  Along with an occasional taste of the grape, it turned out to be a totally enjoyable afternoon in spite of the weather.]

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.  ~  Bernard Baruch

Up next:  Fall choir concert

October 7

The weekend produced a Chamber of Commerce bonanza – there were eight teams in town for the Cardinal volleyball invite; and I believe 21 many for the Lions’ cross country meet at Arrowwood.  Classmate Brad and I decided to forgo the football game Friday night because the weather was “iffy” – at our age, we don’t do “iffy.”  The weather actually wasn’t bad as the Cards put on another offensive display against Bemidji to the tune of 59 – 42 (see following video).  We keep hoping for good “fans in the stands” weather – and with that concept in mind, we opted for the volleyball invite which began at 9:00 am on Saturday . . . 

http://www.hudl.com/team/v2/17144/boys-varsity-football

[And here’s your program and schedules.  It went on all day, and Brad and I were basically there from 9:00 until about 1:30, when I went home to find the Super in dire need of grounds maintenance assistance.  With that length of time at the school, I paid my first ever visit to the concession stand – it was manned by a couple of Cardinal footballers whom I congratulated on their fine peformance the previous night.]

[After perusing the program, we figured out the Cards would be playing Morris Area, Chokio/Alberta, a/k/a, MACA (yes, I did a double-take on that one) in the first game.  I didn’t bring the big lens, figuring we’d be moving a lot and wanted to be light on my feet.]

[Kendra Hardy (13) serving for us . . . ]

[Based on the respective size of the schools, I figured Alex would be the winner . . . ]

[I figured wrong.  The Cards had just ended section and conference rival Willmar’s 10-game winning streak, and we were a little flat . . . a let down after a big win.  Morris dispatched us easily in 2 quick games.  I thought they looked pretty good and discovered they are ranked 7th in the state in class AA.]

[Brad and I then immediately dispatched ourselves to Trav’s for breakfast.  Upon returning to the scene of the crime, I decided to have a little camera fun with series shots while we played Grand Rapids.  First up is McKenzie Duwenhoegger (11) serving . . . ]

[Then in position for the return . . . ]

[Then Devany Johnson (9) . . . ]

[And here’s Kendra again . . . ]

[Then Mia McGrane (5) . . . ]

[Absent any post-invite preparation, I also knew nothing about Grand Rapids, our current opponent.  I subsequently discovered they are ranked in the top 10 in the state.]

[We started slowly, a la the Morris games, but came roaring back.  They were already unraveling the scoreboard before I could get a shot – the actual score in our favor was 25 to 20-something.]

[We were rolling now and easily dispatched the Thunderhawks in the 2nd game.]

[Our next game was against Big Lake – 25 – 10 and 25 – 10 (as you’ll see in the last shot).  Those last 3 1/2 games were as well as I’ve seen any Cardinal team play in a long time.]

[OK team, I think you’re getting the idea here – go to our strength which is . . . ]

[STRENGTH!]

[And here’s McKenzie again . . . ]

[Then Tori Jeretitz (2) . . . ]

[And Kendra . . . ]

[And we’re all on the same page now . . . ]

[The sets were good . . . ]

[Mia . . . ]

[And Devany . . . ]

[And when passing and setting are good, you get in a rhythm.  Our rhythm was such that it was spread around to our four big hitters – McKenzie, Kendra, Mya, and Mia.  I thought Grand Rapids was a bit intimidated, not knowing from whom the next big hit was coming.  Big Lake was definitely looking for places to hide.  So, team, no more finesse – establish the big hits and keep them going!  🙂  (We could not stay for the final game – we beat Belgrade-Brooten-El Rosa for 3rd place, winning two close games.)]

Volleyball rules are simple. If it is on the floor, pick it up and get it into the air. If it is in the air, keep it off the floor.   ~  John Kessel

Up Next:  Raking?  Shoveling?

•  The query “Whom amongst doesn’t like NASCAR?” was oft attributed, in various iterations, to John Kerry because of his Boston Brahmin upbringing.  It was actually coined by Maureen Dowd in the New York Times, essentially pricking his Brahmin-ness.  It has become a favorite useful phrase.

October 3

The Tuesday/Thursday games last week were against Sauk Rapids/Rice and Willmar – in some semblance or another, the No. 1 and 2 teams in the section and the conference.  We lost the home match to SRR in 5 sets; we beat Willmar at their place in 5 sets.  Pretty good week!

[The Cardinal volleyball team . . . 2025 – 27?]

[The Cardinal volleyball team 2017.]

[The meet and greet with the SRR Storm . . . ]

[And we’re off!]

[L-r:  Mya Lesnar (10), Erika Roderick (7), and Mia McGrane (5), all sophomores]

[Mia on serve . . . ]

[We obviously have changed sides . . . I’m sure you picked up on that.  Here we have McKenzie Duwenhoegger (11), a junior, and Erika on defense.  We lost the first two games, and didn’t look particularly good doing so.  But there would be a turn around.]

[McKenzie on serve . . . ]

[Erica likely setting Mia on the far side . . . ]

[Senior Tori Jeseritz (2) in the hands up blocking position.]

[McKenzie’s still serving . . . ]

[Erika and libero Devany Johnson (9), a junior, on defense.]

[Turn around complete – we’re now down 2 games to 1.]

[Mia leads off . . . ]

[McKenzie with a kill . . . ]

[But ready if it comes back . . . ]

[The linebackers are set again . . . ]

[GOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!  Kendry Hardy (13), junior, clapping at the net.]

[Errrr, I mean POINNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTT!]

[Probably the best game I had seen us play all year – totally dominated the No. 1-ranked team in the section.]

[McKenzie and Mya, the dynamic shot put duo.]

[We don’t have great height, but our blocking is pretty effective.]

[Here with Mia, Tori, and Kendra.]

[Tori looks, “Oh no!”]

[We were playing the 5th game for the match.  It only takes 15 points to win Game 5.]

[Either because of the energy spent catching up, or thinking Game 4 had us on a unbeatable roll, we dropped too far behind too early in this last game . . . ]

[The lost cause is written on their faces . . . ]

[Up . . . ]

[And down again . . . ]

[With their eyes on the prize . . . ]

[We’ll leave you uplifted.  There are good things ahead for this team.]

Once you get the taste of ruining somebody’s great hit, it stays with you. And it changes the game. A great defensive play is worth about five points in emotion.  ~  Caren Kemner (3-time Olympian)

Uo Next:  Volleyball

September 26

It seems school has just started . . . and we have a senior night?  Already?

[And since you can’t tell the players without a scorecard . . . ]

[The evening begins when the Amazing Mr. Ripley arrives and upstages me with his gigantic white lens . . . ]

[And when I spot classmate Ruth Helie Anderson on the other side, with her posse of Bud and Will . . . ]

[The Cards were hosting conference rival, the St. Cloud Tech Tigers.  After polishing off the TIgers, the Cards would be a perfectly summetrical .500 team: 8 – 8 on the season, 3 – 3 in conference, and 4 – 4 on weekend trips to The Cities.  But we’re .500 with a bullet.  Two nights later on a road trip, we beat the 7th-in-the-state ranked Sartell Spartans in four games!]

[These obviously are player introductions.  Some shots come out, some don’t?]

[I have no idea?]

[And after all these years, I still don’t know what they’re tossing in the stands?  Maybe I ought to call for one?]

[Let the match begin!  Lest you can’t read the program, I believe that’s Tori Jeseritz (number not visible), Mia McGrane (5), and Kendra Hardy (13).]

[Mya and Mia]

[Yup, that’s Mya Lesnar (10) going up here.]

[McKenzie Carlson (3) on serve . . . ]

[Mia, then . . . ]

[Mya]

[Erica Roderick (7) and Mya, two sophomores tending the net.]

[McKenzie Duwenhoegger (11) on serve . . . ]

[Then the southpaw swings of Kendra . . . ]

[An all sophomore front line . . . ]

[Mia up for a hit . . . ]

[With great physical dexterity, Mr. Ripley is able to shoot the students doing push-ups in the number of Cardinal points . . . ]

[Big win in game 1.]

[McKenzie leads off game 2 . . . ]

[Well, on this serve Serena Williams must have been the returner because McKenzie didn’t have a chance . . . ]

[Then McKenzie on serve (are you confused?) . . . ]

[Then Erika . . . ]

[The scoreboard in game 2 was “erased” before I could get a shot.  We won 26 – 24 – our setting was out of sync the whole game.  And now in game 3, Erika and Mya upfront . . . ]

[Let’s wrap it up in three!]

[Courtney Gould (12) came in to play – we’ll see more of her in basketball season . . . ]

[As a team we didn’t serve as well as we did in the first game of the season, but the number of service errors were probably average and not a factor in the overall scheme of things . . .]

[We win!  We win!]

[Woo-hoo!]

[Well done.  The team may make the end of the season interesting.]

September 28

[The Class of ’65 monthly luncheon . . . ]

[Used to be Jerry’s Bar & Grill . . . ]

[Perfectly located as a go to place pre- and post Cardinal hockey games!]

[Feed us!]

[The manager asked to take our photo for their Facebook page!]

September 29

[A big Cardinal home football game v. St. Cloud Tech – we were likely an underdog, but came away with a big 36 – 27 win!  But since BAT was at the Garden Bar on 6th . . . ]

[All photos by the Super, who also gifted the socks to BAT!]

I love being middle hitter!  Blocks and hits, baby.  😉  ~  Stacy Durbin (volleyballer)

Up Next: ?