Rockets 'ace' regional tests with Comets, Woodchucks

Thirty-eight service aces in two matches makes for quick bus rides, or at least as quick as they can be when hitting the pavement to the northwesternmost reaches of Super Region 4.

That was one of the big signs of success for the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets, who took a pair of quick victories against Rolette-Wolford (25-11, 25-3, 25-6) and St. John (25-17, 25-7, 25-13) on October 15 and 19 to keep their points string untouched at 6-0 (3-0 in Region matches) and improve to 6-4 for the season.

Senior outside hitter Kayahna Hopfauf led the Rockets in both matches for kills, striking eight against the Comets and 14 in the win over the Woodchucks. Hitting the seven-kill mark in each contest was Chloe Heinz (R-W) and Kelsie Belquist (St. John).

Of the Rockets’ blistering serve performances, Cassie Longnecker’s nine in the second match alone were notable. Kennedy Demester had five apiece, and Dani Bjerke combined for eight and Mya Cudworth six total.

At setter, Bjerke put up stat lines of 27 and 25 assists, and Longnecker had lower-than-usual dig totals of six and seven due to the relatively few contested points and the short matches.

The Rockets venture out of regional play to take on Griggs/Midkota tonight (October 26) in Binford for an A-B-C-8th-7th grade slate, and host the Rolla Bulldogs in a key Region 4 matchup Thursday night (A-B-C, 5 p.m.)

Super Region 4 Volleyball

NR-S 3, Rolette-Wolford 0 at Rolette Thursday, Oct. 15

NR-S 25 25 25 — 3

R-W 11 3 6 — 0

NR-S Stats

Kills: Kayahna Hopfauf 8, Chloe Heinz 7, Mya Cudworth 6, Madisen Myhre 5, McKayla Waldo 3, Macey Wobbema 2, Dani Bjerke and Cassie Longnecker 1.

Aces: Kennedy Demester 5, Cudworth 4, Bjerke and Hopfauf 3.

Assists: Bjerke 27, Kelsie Belquist and Heinz 2.

Blocks: Bjerke 1.

Digs: Longnecker 6, Cudworth and Heinz 3, Bjerke 2, Belquist and Alexa Holth 1.

Junior High

NR-S 2, Rolette-Wolford 0

(25-20, 25-16)

Junior Varsity

NR-S 2, Rolette-Wolford 0

(25-8, 25-10)

NR-S 3, St. John 0 at St. John Monday, Oct. 19

NR-S 25 25 25 — 3

St. John 17 7 13 — 0

NR-S Stats

Kills: Hopfauf 14, Belquist 7, Heinz 4, Waldo 3, Cudworth 2.

Aces: Longnecker 9, Bjerke and Demester 5, Cudworth 2, Heinz and Hopfauf 1.

Assists: Bjerke 25, Demester, Heinz and Longnecker 1.

Blocks: Heinz and Waldo 1.

Digs: Longnecker 7, Cudworth 5, Heinz and Hopfauf 4, Bjerke and Demester 3, Belquist and Waldo 1.

Junior Varsity

NR-S 2, St. John 0

(25-4, 25-7)