Back-to-Back Champs

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets have done it again.

Yes, you read that right.

The NR-S volleyball team has punched their ticket to the Class B State Volleyball Tournament for the second year in a row, after defeating the Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich Cardinals in five sets during the region championship match on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Rockets' region title a year ago was their first in school history, and now, their back-to-back championships represent just the second time since 1994 that a school other than LA/E/M has won two straight Region 4 titles – and just a few weeks ago such an accomplishment hardly seemed likely.

When the Rockets and Cardinals met each other earlier this season in Langdon, the Cardinals took down the Rockets handily in three straight sets.

The Rockets didn't doubt themselves, however, and entered the title match in Devils Lake ready to take charge – their eyes set on defending their region title.

It was the battle of the nets.

The Rockets and Cardinals rallied point-by-point in the first set, but with a huge kill by NR-S senior Kelsie Belquist, the Rockets came out on top 25-22.

Set two turned a bit ugly for the Rockets, and once the Cardinals earned an early lead, there was no stopping them.

LA/E/M seniors Cora Badding and Jaya Henderson were on fire at the net, not only with hitting but also blocking. Together they propelled the Cardinals to victory in set two, leaving the Rockets with a 13-point deficit.

After taking a breather between sets, the Rockets were ready to push back, and they came back in set three to take down the Cardinals once again 25-22 after a hitting error by Henderson.

Set four was similar to the first set. The momentum was there, but the set ended in favor of the Cardinals 25-23 after a net violation by NR-S sophomore Ava Peterson.

Set five. This is where the fire started. For Belquist and Peterson that is.

The pair of Rocket outside hitters went kill-for-kill, utterly dominating their opponents and pushing their team to a suffocating lead. When the dust settled, NR-S had only allowed the Cardinals to score five points in the entire set, and the Rockets emerged with their second region championship.

Rocket players, coaches and fans stormed the court after they scored the final point, gifted to them by a hitting error from LA/E/M freshman Aubrey Badding.

For the Cardinals, it was only the second time since 1998 that they hadn't qualified for the state tournament two years in a row.

Belquist led the team in kills with a total of 26. Peterson followed behind with a total of 14.

NR-S sophomore, Logan Cudworth, led the team in digs with a total of 17. Following behind Cudworth was Lucy Meier with 15, Kaiya O'Connor with 14 and Peterson and Belquist, each with 13.

Leaders on the other side of the net were Cora Badding, Payton Hall and Jalynn Swanson.

C. Badding led the Cardinals in kills with a total of 26. Following behind C. Badding was Jaya Henderson with 13 and A. Badding with 10.

Swanson led the Cardinals in assists with a total of 50, whereas Hall led the team in digs with a total of 11.

Meanwhile, the North Star Bearcats dominated the North Prairie Cougars in the third place game, defeating them 25-20, 25-17 and 25-18.

After the championship game concluded, the Region 4 awards were handed out.

Lora Wobbema, O'Connor, Belquist, and Peterson were among the many to be named to the All Region 4 Team. Other members of the All Region 4 Team were Lanae Gourd, Four Winds/Minnewaukan; Ashley Keller, Braylee Keller and Kali Fike, Harvey/Wells County; Cora Badding, Jalynn Swanson, Jaya Henderson and Meredith Romfo, Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich; Madison Samuelson and Jenna Rosinski, North Prairie; Morgen Disrud, St. John; Gianna Ahlberg, Payton Harpestad and Elle Nicholas, North Star; Aubrey Kenner, Benson County; and Mya Luehring, Nelson County.

Kelsie Belquist was named the 2023 Region 4 Senior Athlete of the Year. And LA/E/M head coach Rich Olson was named the 2023 Region 4 Coach of the Year.

A total of 72 volleyball athletes made the 2023 All Academic Team. Out of those 72, a total of 15 came from New Rockford-Sheyenne. Congratulations to K. Belquist, Meier, Wobbema, Peterson, O'Connor, Cudworth, E. Belquist, Paige Knatterud, Alivia Yri, Ava Bullinger, Bailey Jacobson, Addysen Fandrich, Tillie Swart, Bailey Baumbach and Abby Nystrom.

The Rockets will face the No. 3 seed, the Our Redeemer's Knights, in the opening round of the 2023 Class B State Volleyball Tournament at the FargoDome on Thursday, Nov. 16. Rocket fans, let's fill the stands! The girls enjoy a huge crowd, so bring your best Rocket spirit!

Other teams representing Class B at the state tournament are the Northern Cass Jaguars from Region 1; the MayPort-C-G Patriots from Region 2; the LaMoure/Litchville-Marion Loboes from Region 3; the Shiloh Christian Skyhawks from Region 5; the Dickinson Trinity Titans from Region 7 and the Trenton Tigers from Region 8.

Region 4 Championship

NR-S 3, LA/E/M 2

Thursday, Nov. 9

at Devils Lake

NR-S: 25 12 25 23 15 - 3

LA/E/M: 22 25 22 25 5 - 2

NR-S Individual Stats:

Aces: Lucy Meier 1, Lora Wobbema 1.

Assists: Kaiya O'Connor 45, Logan Cudworth 3, Meier 2, Kelsie Belquist 1.

Blocks: Ava Peterson 5, Meier 5, K. Belquist 3, Wobbema 2, Emmie Belquist 2, O'Connor 1.

Digs: Cudworth 17, Meier 15, O'Connor 14, K. Belquist 13, Peterson 13, Wobbema 8, E. Belquist 1.

Kills: K. Belquist 26, Peterson 14, O'Connor 4, Wobbema 4, Meier 3, E. Belquist 1.

LA/E/M Individual Stats:

Aces: Cora Badding 3, Jalynn Swanson 1, Payton Hall 1.

Assists: Swanson 50, Hall 1, C. Badding 1, Meredith Romfo 1.

Blocks: C. Badding 3.

Digs: Hall 11, Romfo 6, Jaya Henderson 4, Swanson 3, Claire Chapput 2, C. Badding 1, Aubrey Badding 1.

Kills: C. Badding 26, Henderson 13, A. Badding 10, Hillary Haaven 3, Swanson 2, Hall 1, Chapput 1.

Photos from this match have been uploaded to transcript.smugmug.com.