Swept away by 'nadoes

Volleyball season has officially kicked off for New Rockford-Sheyenne.

On Thursday, the Rockets hosted the Oakes Tornadoes in their season, and home, opener.

The Rockets had four returning starters hit the floor – Kaiya O'Connor, Ava Peterson, Logan Cudworth and Emmie Belquist.

With the Rockets' main hitters Kelsie Belquist and Lora Wobbema graduating last year, the team needed to do some repositioning.

Ava Peterson and Emmie Belquist have moved to the middle hitter positions, with Peterson becoming the power hitter the Rockets need. NR-S junior Logan Cudworth can be found as the libero, just as last year.

NR-S senior Ava Bullinger – who didn't receive much varsity playing time last year – earned her starting position as an outside hitter, along with NR-S freshman Jaida Schumacher.

O'Connor and Alivia Yri are splitting the role of setter, while also earning some hitting time as an opposite hitter. NR-S senior Addysen Fandrich also earned an opposite hitter position.

With trying to get a grip on a new starting lineup, the Rockets had quite the rocky start.

The Tornadoes were able to score seven points before O'Connor was able to put a kill in bounds for the Rockets.

After rallying back and forth with the Tornadoes, the Rockets began their climb back up after a few key hits from Peterson.

The Rockets were able to bring themselves within just a point of the Tornadoes in set one. With a kill by Oakes outside hitter Brianna Schmitz, the Rockets came up short 23-25 in set one.

The Rockets seemed to find some momentum in set two, as they kept up with the Tornadoes.

At one point, the Rockets even led the Tornadoes 9-8. But within a point, both teams were rallying once again.

Peterson kick-started another lead for the Rockets after securing an ace. This time, the Rockets led by three before the Tornadoes began to come back fighting – eventually taking the 25-21 set win.

In set three, the Rockets and Tornadoes fought equally on the court until the Rockets fired up. With a service error on Oakes' Lexi Harris, the Rockets took advantage and started adding points to the scoreboard.

Although the Rockets held a six point lead over the Tornadoes, they were unable to capitalize, as they came up short 20-25.

Peterson led the Rockets in kills with 14, followed by Belquist with four and Schumacher with three. For the Tornadoes, Kassidy Jackson had the most kills with eight, followed by Ann Muggli with seven.

Cudworth and Peterson both scored in double digits for digs with 18 and 16, respectively. Oakes had four earning double digits in digs: L. Harris with 20, Haylie Dethlefsen and Mallory Domine each with 12 and B. Schmitz with 11.

The Rockets junior varsity squad walked away with a 3-0 victory over the Tornadoes, but the c-squad came up short 1-2.

Non Region Volleyball

NR-S 0, Oakes 3

Thursday, Sept. 5

in New Rockford

NR-S: 23 21 20 - 0

Oakes: 25 25 25 - 0

NR-S Individual Stats:

Aces: Ava Peterson 3, Logan Cudworth 2, , Bailey Jacobson 1, Kaiya O'Connor 1

Assists: O'Connor 15, Alivia Yri 5, Addysen Fandrich 2, Peterson 1

Blocks: Emmie Belquist 4, Fandrich 1

Digs: Cudworth 18, Peterson 16, Yri 8, O'Connor 7, Belquist 4, Jacobson 3, Jaida Schumacher 2, Fandrich 1

Kills: Peterson 14, Belquist 4, Schumacher 3, O'Connor 1, Fandrich 1

Oakes Individual Stats:

Aces: Kassidy Jackson 3, Lexi Harris 1, Mallory Domine 1, Molly Sitzler 1, Brianna Schmitz 1

Assists: Sitzler 14, B. Schmitz 13, Domine 2, Haylie Dethlefsen 1

Blocks: Ann Muggli 8, Sitzler 3, B. Schmitz 1, Sarah Schmitz 1, Domine 1

Digs: L. Harris 20, Domine 12, Dethlefsen 12, B. Schmitz 11, Sitzler 4, S. Schmitz 3, Jackson 3, Muggli 2, Mallory Harris 1, Brooklyn Witkowski 1

Kills: Jackson 8, Muggli 7, B. Schmitz 7, Sitzler 6, S. Schmitz 2, Domine 2, Dethlefsen 1, L. Harris 1

B-Squad

NR-S 3, Oakes 0

NR-S: 25 25 17 - 3

Oakes: 22 23 15 - 0

C-Squad

NR-S 1, Oakes 2

NR-S: 6 14 15 - 1

Oakes: 25 25 13 - 2