North Star ends Rockets' season at Region 4

Third-seeded New Rockford-Sheyenne, following their victory over HWC in the first round of the Region 4 Tournament on Tuesday, November 10, faced the same team that dealt them a three-set loss in the last regular season match nine days earlier.

In the same gym where they took a 19-25, 20-25 and 15-25 defeat at North Star's hands, the Rockets and #2-seed Bearcats met on November 12 in Cando with the stakes much higher this time around, a spot in the championship match up for grabs. Things didn't change in this instance, either.

North Star advanced to take on Langdon/Edmore/Munich with another 13-25, 20-25 and 19-25 win over NR-S.

Kayahna Hopfauf's eight kills and six more by Kelsie Belquist led NR-S, whose final record was 12-7.

Along with Hopfauf, Dani Bjerke, Chloe Heinz, Cassie Longnecker and McKayla Waldo concluded their varsity careers.

Bjerke, the Rocket setter, had 17 assists and two aces to lead NR-S in both categories. At libero, Longnecker finished with 22 digs, and junior Mya Cudworth had two blocks.

A total of six seniors will leave the team, including reserve defensive specialist Lexi Anderson.

The Bearcats (13-4) and Cardinals played an entertaining region championship match, with L/E/M claiming another crown in five sets Saturday, November 14 in Langdon.

Region 4 Volleyball Tournament Semifinals

North Star 3, NR-S 0

at Cando

NR-S 13 20 19 - 0

N. Star 25 25 25 - 3

NR-S Stats

Kills: Kayahna Hopfauf 8, Kelsie Belquist 6, Mya Cudworth, Chloe Heinz and McKayla Waldo 3, Dani Bjerke 2.

Aces: Bjerke 2, Heinz 1.

Assists: Bjerke 17, Heinz 5, Kennedy Demester and Cassie Longnecker 1. 

Blocks: Cudworth 2, Bjerke and Waldo 1.

Digs: Longnecker 22, Cudworth 9, Demester and Heinz 7, Bjerke and Hopfauf 4, Belquist 2.

Academic All Region Team

New Rockford: Kayahna Hopfauf, Chloe Heinz, Dani Bjerke, Cassie Longnecker, Mya Cudworth, Kelsie Belquist, Delana Thomas, Madisen Myhre, Alexa Holth and Kyria Dockter.

Benson County: Ashlyn Williams, Haley Maddock, Isabelle Sundby, Kearyn Nelsen, Maliyah Bowman, Desidy Schwanke and Jaylen Anderson.

North Star: Jessica Bertsch, Taylor Berg, Jaelyn Buckman, Mackenzie Gleason, Danielle Hagler, Gracie Miller, Elle Nicholas, Lindsey Nyhagen, McKenzie Peters and Kinzley Knutson.

Rolla: Isabelle Mears, Grace Neameyer, Joslyn Nordmark, Morgan Leas, Kate Munro, and Hannah Neameyer.

Rolette: Hannah Strong, Justine Leonard, Brooklyn Gourneau, Sierra Heinz and Jodee Fritel.

Harvey/Wells County: MacKenna Arnold, Autumn Sieg, Kalyn Keller, Carsyn Ziegler and Emma Dockter.

Nelson County: Haylee Christofferson, Marit Ellingson, Sydnee Johnston, Krista Lippert, Paytan Lippert, Rylan Parsley, Kylee Baumgarn, Nora Johnson, Abigail Larson and Cadence Schwind.

Dunseith: Emily Counts, Brailyn Davis and Rozalind Strong.

St. John: Morgan Disrud, Kylie Parisien, Hannah Poitra and Aleigha Lenoir.

Langdon/Edmore/Munich: Marlee Hetletved, Morgan Thielbar, Lexis Olson, Kaylee Lowery, Jalynn Swanson, Olivia Christianson, McKenna Schneider, Taryn Amble and Halle Jabs.