Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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.