Rockets take five to beat FW-M

The NR-S Rockets boarded the bus following a five-set marathon Super Region win in Fort Totten Monday, Oct. 14, but the mood was more of relief than celebratory.

That may have been because Coach Sara Myhre's group, in their hearts, might have overlooked the Four Winds-Minnewaukan Lady Indians and their winless season record of 0-10 to that juncture.

Particularly concerning about the Rockets' 25-15, 22-25, 18-25, 25-13 and 15-5 victory was the fact that going into the match, the Lady Indians had not managed to take as much as a set all season.

After NR-S won by 10 in the first game, FW-M rose up to get their first set triumph of 2019 with a three-point win in the second. The good mojo for the Indians continued with an even-bigger win of seven in the third game, putting the Rockets (9-9 overall, 4-1 Region 4, 8-2 regional points) squarely on upset alert.

That urgency must have registered in the final two sets, as the visitors made relatively short work of the Lady Indians in grabbing dominant fourth and fifth set wins.

Two players, Hannah Haley and Kayahna Hopfauf, shared kill leadership with 10 apiece. Chloe Heinz also provided eight kills for the Rockets.

On the back line, both combining for nine aces were Cassie Longnecker and Kindra Jacobson. Longnecker would pace the dig parade with 40, and net play defensively was dictated by McKayla Waldo's four blocks.

Dani Bjerke, the NR-S setter, had 32 assists in the win.

The Rockets got a two-set victory in the junior varsity match, 25-20 and 25-22.

NR-S travels to Region 4 leader Langdon/Edmore/Munich this Tuesday evening (A-B-C-junior high, 4 p.m.), and comes back home Thursday for another conference four-match slate at the same time with the Rolette-Wolford Comets.

Super Region 4 Volleyball NR-S 3, Four Winds-Minn. 2 at Fort Totten

NR-S 25 22 18 25 15 3

FW-M 15 25 25 13 5 2

NR-S Stats

Kills: Hannah Haley and Kayahna Hopfauf 10, Chloe Heinz 8, Brianna Price and McKayla Waldo 4.

Aces: Cassie Longnecker 5, Kindra Jacobson 4, Kennedy Demester 2, Dani Bjerke, Heinz and Price 1.

Assists: Bjerke 32, Demester and Heinz 1.

Blocks: Waldo 4, Bjerke 2, Haley, Heinz, Hopfauf, Jacobson and Price 1.

Digs: Longnecker 40, Haley 14, Bjerke 7, Demester 6, Heinz 3, Hopfauf and Kenna Munson 2, Waldo 1.

Junior Varsity:

NR-S 2, FW-Minn. 0

(25-20, 25-22)