Rockets come up short in five-set marathon

Back at the net for their second regulation match of the season, the NR-S Rockets found themselves once again in a five-set match, this time against the Lady Bison of Barnes County North in rural Leal Thursday, September 12.

And, just like their first outing, it went to the opposition, in a 25-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-15, 12-15 loss that dropped the Rocket girls to 3-4 on the early fall campaign.

Trailing two sets to none in the match, the Rockets battled back with a three-point win in the third and controlled play in the fourth set, before falling late in the deciding fifth game.

Senior Hannah Haley hit in double figures with 11 kills, and also added nine digs on NR-S' column.

Two junior hitters also supplemented the Rockets' net efforts. NR-S received seven kills from Kayahna Hopfauf, to go along with five blocks, and McKayla Waldo finished with six additional points off the attack and three stuffs to her credit. Brianna Price added four kills and three more blocks in the loss.

Dani Bjerke had 35 assists for the Rockets, and Cassie Longnecker a team-best 25 digs at the libero spot.

BCN's Ashley McFadgen was a thorn in the side of the NR-S defense all evening long, leading the Bison with 16 kills. Combining for 13 more kills were Hailey Schaeffer (7) and Hanna Wieland (6).

The Bison were led by freshman Ashley Weiss' 30 assists, and Kendra Greshik was a one-girl force on the back line with 42 digs, not to mention three aces.

Coach Sara Myhre's team resumes play this Tuesday when they face non-region opponent Drake-Anamoose in the NR-S Gym starting at 5 p.m. with the junior high match versus the Raiders.

Two nights later, the Rockets begin their Super Region 4 slate with another home match against Harvey-Wells County. Festivities with the Hornets will feature a full five-game slate of A-B-C-eighth grade-seventh grade volleyball beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Myhre's group will also travel to Devils Lake this upcoming Saturday for their second tournament of the season, the Lake Region Invitational.

Nonregion Volleyball Barnes Co. North 3, NR-S 2 at Leal

NR-S 25 15 25 25 12 2

BCN 27 25 22 15 15 3

NR-S Stats

Kills: Hannah Haley 11, Kayahna Hopfauf 7, McKayla Waldo 6, Brianna Price 4, Chloe Heinz and Cassie Longnecker 2, Dani Bjerke 1.

Aces: Heinz 2, Bjerke and Kennedy Demester 1.

Assists: Bjerke 35, Price 4.

Blocks: Hopfauf 5, Price and Waldo 3.

Digs: Longnecker 25, Haley 9, Kenna Munson 8, Heinz 3, Demester, Price and Waldo 2, Bjerke and Hopfauf 1.

BCN Statistical Leaders

Kills: Ashley McFadgen 16, Hailey Schaefer 7, Hanna Wieland 6.

Aces: Kendra Greshik 3.

Assists: Ashley Weiss 30.

Digs: Greshik 42.

Junior High:

Barnes Co. North 2, NR-S 0

(11-25, 16-25)

Junior Varsity:

NR-S 2, Barnes Co. North 0

(25-13, 25-23)