Rockets send Bison roaming

Kyrie O'Connor | Sep 19, 2022

Kyrie O'Connor count

The Rockets' bench no longer has just two players supporting their teammates on the court, they have five. From left to right: Emmie Belquist, Ava Bullinger, Alivia Yri, Logan Cudworth, Lora Wobbema, and coaches Kayahna Hopfauf and Sara Myhre cheer after the Rockets scored another point.

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Kyrie O'Connor count

Kaiya O'Connor reaches up to dump the volleyball over the net, around the hands of BCN outside hitter, Desire McGough.

Kyrie O'Connor count

NR-S sophomore, Addysen Fandrich, cheers after receiving a kill during the c-squad game against the Barnes County North Bison.

After two tough non-region losses, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets knew they needed to change up their game plan. With a new rotation and an additional three players to the varsity bench, the Rockets were able to defeat the Barnes County North Bison 3-0 at home.

The Rockets had previously been running a 5-1 rotation, with NR-S sophomore, Kaiya O'Connor, being a full-time setter. That rotation has now changed to a 6-2, with O'Connor and Ava Peterson splitting the setting duties.

Other changes to the rotation came from Madisen Myhre and Lucy Meier. Myhre, originally a middle hitter, and Meier, originally an outside hitter, have now flipped positions.

With this rotation change, the Rockets seemed to flow better on the court, with less players running into one another.

The Rockets made a decision to bump up three players from b-squad to the varsity team; those being Ava Bullinger, Alivia Yri and Emmie Belquist.

NR-S libero, Kyria Dockter, started off the game strong with two aces. Dockter served a total of three aces against the Bison. This started the momentum for the entire game.

With every kill, every block, and every ace scored, the players on the Rockets' bench were seen jumping out of their seats and cheering their teammates on.

Statistics from their two previous games show the Rockets have yet to score on any blocks. This game was different, with the Rockets up at the net to take nine blocks. Middle hitter, Lora Wobbema, led the team in blocks with four total.

Belquist held the most kills for the Rockets, with a total of 12. Along with the usual hitters, O'Connor was able to add three kills to her stats. Dockter led the team in digs with 18. Also in double digits for digs was Myhre with 11.

O'Connor added 21 assists to her record, to inch closer to the 1,000 mark. Peterson also had double digits in assists with 11 total.

Now let's switch from varsity to c-squad.

Key player from the c-squad game was NR-S sophomore, Addysen Fandrich. From digging, to blocking, to hitting, Fandrich excelled in every position on the court.

Another exciting moment for the c-squad team came when Jocee Lawrence scored on a kill. Not only did the players on the court jump for joy, but the players on the bench and the coaches all were heard cheering loudly. Lawrence had just recently moved up to c-squad after a few roster changes on teams.

The Rockets hosted the Carrington Cardinals (A,B,C,8,7) on Thursday, Sept. 15.

The b-squad team hosted the New Rockford-Sheyenne b-squad tournament on Saturday, Sept. 17. Also on Sept. 17, the junior high Rockets traveled to Harvey to compete in the Harvey/Wells County junior high tournament.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Rockets will travel to Drake to take on the Drake-Anamoose Lady Raiders (A,B,JH) at 5 p.m.

These games and tournaments will be covered in the September 26 edition of the New Rockford Transcript.

Non-Region Volleyball

NR-S 3, BCN 0

Thursday, September 8

at New Rockford

NR-S: 25 25 25 - 3

BCN: 13 15 8 - 0

NR-S Individual Stats:

Assists: Kaiya O'Connor 21, Ava Peterson 11, Madisen Myhre 1.

Kills: Kelsie Belquist 12, Peterson 7, Myhre 6, Lucy Meier 6, O'Connor 3, Lora Wobbema 2.

Blocks: Wobbema 4, Belquist 2, Peterson 2, Meier 1.