Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Thunder strikes Rockets in roller coaster five-set match

Sara Myhre's first match at the head of the NR-S Rockets was certainly a memorable one, even if the end result wasn't in her team's favor.

NR-S took the first two sets against non-region foe Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, but the Thunder rallied back from the brink of defeat to take the next three and shock the Rockets at the NR-S Gym, 21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-11 and 15-12. It was the season opener for both teams.

Each team went point-for-point in the first set, and were knotted at 20-20 before the Rockets took five of the next six for the game victory. NR-S started well in set two, leading 17-11 before the Thunder came back to tie it at 21 all. The home squad would prevail in extra points, 26-24.

Now with a 2-0 advantage, the Rockets may have felt a bit of complacency set in. M-P-B took advantage, going ahead by seven at 17-10 past the midway point of set three. Though NR-S had a six-point run to get within one, Coach Jacie Connell's Thunder re-established themselves with a six-point win.

The fourth set was all Thunder, as they rattled off 10 of the first 13 points, and the Rockets never recovered in a 25-11 defeat.

The deciding set to 15 went M-P-B's way early with an 8-2 run. NR-S' last hurrah came via a 6-1 spurt to cut within 9-8, but the Thunder took the match with clutch play down the stretch.

In defeat, senior and returning All-Region 4 player Hannah Haley had eight kills, eight digs and two service aces. Additional big hitters in the match were Kindra Jacobson with six kills, and Kayahna Hopfauf notched five to go along with six stuff blocks.

The passing game leader was setter Dani Bjerke with 34 assists, and she also contributed three aces from the back line. On defense, libero Cassie Longnecker had a busy night with 27 digs.

Chloe Heinz also hit two aces for the Rockets.

A good portion of M-P-B's points came on the play of senior standout Megan Moser. Moser, who has over 1,200 kills and is knocking on the door of 2,000 digs during a six-year varsity career, dominated in those statistics with 31 kills and 33 digs in the five-set match. She also confounded the Rockets at the line, hitting for six aces.

Alexis Vandeberghe and Calli Mack combined for 16 kills for the Thunder, and Gracie Bohl had 42 assists. Vandeberghe, along with eighth grader Alaina Bosche, had 20 digs in the back row.

NR-S participated in the Lakota Tournament this past Saturday, a good early-season measuring stick for Myhre's club. This upcoming Thursday, the team travels to Leal to face Barnes County North (0-1), a first-match loser to Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page in four sets.

Junior high play begins at 5 p.m., followed by JV and varsity matches.

Nonregion Volleyball

M-P-B 3, NR-S 2 at New Rockford

M-P-B 21 24 25 25 15 3

NR-S 25 26 19 11 12 2

NR-S Statistical Leaders

Kills: Hannah Haley 8, Kindra Jacobson 6, Kayahna Hopfauf 5.

Aces: Dani Bjerke 3, Haley and Chloe Heinz 2.

Assists: Bjerke 34.

Blocks: Hopfauf 6.

Digs: Cassie Longnecker 27, Haley 8.

M-P-B Statistical Leaders

Kills: Megan Moser 31, Alexis Vandeberghe 9, Calli Mack 7.

Aces: Moser 6, Gracie Bohl and Mack 2.

Assists: Bohl 42.

Blocks: Bohl, Abigail Reich and Danielle Trapp 2.

Digs: Moser 33, Alaina Bosche and Vandeberghe 20.

7th Grade:

NR-S 2, M-P-B 0

C-Squad:

NR-S 2, M-P-B 0

Junior Varsity:

M-P-B 2, NR-S 0