Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Party Crashers: Visiting Cardinals prevail in thriller at Rocket Homecoming

 For Homecoming 2022, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets were set to host local rivals, the Carrington Cardinals, on Thursday, Sept. 15.

 With the recent rotation change, the Rockets thought they would finally have the chance to beat the Cardinals. But to no avail, the Rockets just couldn't defeat them.

 Before the start of the game, varsity players from both NR-S and Carrington were found in a circle praying. Why, you may be thinking? Recently, Sheyenne native and NR-S volleyball player, Bailey Jacobson, was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. Jacobson is set to start chemotherapy this week. All prayers are needed for her and her family.

 If you were at this game, you would've had great hope for the Rockets, as they took the first two sets against the Cardinals. Passers were playing well, sets were making it to the hitters, all was great. Until the third set.

 The Rockets came close to defeating the Cardinals in three in the third set, but fell short by just two measly points. Who knew that a two-point win would flip the switch for the Cardinals.

 After the third set, the Rockets went from playing great, to committing many errors. Hits weren't being blocked, passers couldn't dig up the ball and coverage just wasn't there. The Cardinals came back to sweep the Rockets in the fourth set by 10 points.

 The fifth and final set went point-by-point, but the Cardinals took the win 15-11.

 Although the Rockets lost this non-region match-up, there were many great things in the first few sets. one being communication.

 In first few games, fans barely heard the girls on the court communicating. Now, things have changed. One player you may hear a lot out on the court is freshman, Ava Peterson.

 With Peterson and O'Connor now splitting the duties of a setter, there is a need for more communication on who is the setter and where the setter is at all times. The first two sets brought great communication, but the last three weren't the best, which eventually started to show.

 Other key points from the first portion of the game include blocking and coverage.

 When the Cardinals were up to hit, the Rockets' front row were up and ready to block. And if the players weren't blocking, they were covering the blockers.

 The Rockets had a total of eight blocks against the Cardinals, with two each coming from Madisen Myhre, Lora Wobbema and Peterson.

 On the coverage side of things, many Rockets players were able to dig up hits from the Cardinals. Five NR-S players were in double digits in digs: those being Kelsie Belquist with 18, Peterson with 17, O'Connor with 16, and Kyria Dockter and Myhre each with 13.

 Belquist, being a killer as always on the court, led the Rockets in kills with 27. Myhre also scored in double digits with 10.

 The Cardinals also defeated the Rockets b-squad, eighth- and seventh-grade teams. The Rockets' c-squad team defeated the Cardinals 2-1.

 The Rockets will host the Benson County Wildcats (A,B,C,8,7) on Tuesday, Sept. 27, starting at 3:30 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 29, the Rockets will travel to St. John (A,B) to take on the Woodchucks at 5:30 p.m.

 And last but not least, the Rockets will compete in the two-day Des Lacs Tournament on Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1.

Non-Region

Varsity Volleyball

NR-S 2, Cgtn 3

at New Rockford

NR-S: 26 25 23 15 11 - 2

Cgtn: 24 20 25 25 15 - 3

NR-S Stats:

 Aces: Kyria Dockter 4, Madisen Myhre 3, Kaiya O'Connor 2, Kelsie Belquist 1, Lucy Meier 1.

 Assists: O'Connor 26, Ava Peterson 15, Dockter 2, Lora Wobbema 1.

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

 Digs: Belquist 18, Peterson 17, O'Connor 16, Dockter 13, Myhre 13, Meier 3, Wobbema 2.

 Kills: Belquist 27, Myhre 10, Peterson 5, O'Connor 5, Wobbema 1.

Cgtn Stats:

 Aces: Isabel Wendel 6, Haley Wolsky 2, Allison Jarrett 1, Emma Hone 1

 Kills: Wolsky 16, Madison Johnson 16, Kennedy Wendel 11, Hone 9, I. Wendel 6, Mercedes Lura 1, Mya Schroeder 1

 Blocks: K. Wendel 4, Hone 3, I. Wendel 2

 Digs: Schroeder 25, I. Wendel 25, Kacie Rexin 23, Wolsky 17, Johnson 13, Jarrett 9, Hone 7, K. Wendel 6

 Assists: Rexin 41, I. Wendel 9, Lura 1

B-Squad

NR-S 0, Cgtn 3

NR-S: 12 20 12 - 0

Cgtn: 25 25 15 - 3

C-Squad

NR-S 2, Cgtn 1

NR-S: 13 25 15 - 2

Cgtn: 25 21 12 - 1

8th Grade:

NR-S 0, Cgtn 2

NR-S: 11 12 - 0

Cgtn: 25 25 - 2

7th Grade:

NR-S 1, Cgtn 2

NR-S: 25 17 11 - 1

Cgtn: 23 25 15 - 2