Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
–Jacobson, Yri record first varsity stats for Rocket volleyball
Alivia Yri stretches for a ball just over the net during the Rockets' Thursday night game against the Barnes County North Bison on Sept. 7.
Bailey Jacobson records a dig against the Bison – her first playing in a varsity game. The dig representated how far she's come in her battle with cancer. Bailey Jacobson records a dig against the Bison – her first playing in a varsity game. The dig representated how far she's come in her battle with cancer.
Since suffering a tough loss to Thompson in their season opener, the New Rockford-Sheyenne volleyball team has rebounded with two straight impressive wins.
They took down Medina/Pingree-Buchanan in five sets, and now against a less-experienced Barnes County North team, the Rockets did exactly what great teams are supposed to do.
The Rockets made quick work of the Bison on Thursday, Sept. 7, taking down the team from District 5 in only three sets.
The usual suspects were once again fantastic, as Kelsie Belquist earned seven kills and two assists, while also leading the team in digs with nine.
Lucy Meier matched Belquist with seven kills, and also had three assists, two digs and one block. Ava Peterson led the team in assists with 12 and earned five digs, and Addy Fandrich finished with five kills and one block.
Logan Cudworth, meanwhile, had an excellent game serving the ball as she led the team in aces with eight. Also earning aces were Lora Wobbema with four, and Belquist and Peterson with two each.
But that's enough about the Rockets' starters. Their domination on Thursday allowed a few of their teammates to get some solid varsity playing time.
NR-S seventh grader, Alivia Yri, earned her first-ever varsity stats against Barnes County North, with five assists and three digs.
Meanwhile, another Rockets' player was also getting her first taste of varsity volleyball, and it meant much more than just a few more minutes of playing time.
This time a year ago, sophomore Bailey Jacobson was unable to play volleyball at all, but had the support of countless players and teams throughout the state as she battled Hodkin's Lymphoma.
On March 28, 2023, Jacobson was able to ring the bell at the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo N.D., and just a few months later she's finally back on the volleyball court.
She's been performing well for the Rockets' junior varsity team this season, and the one dig she earned on the varsity stage in Barnes County represents just how far she's come.
The Rockets as a whole also seem to have come quite a ways since their game against Thompson, as a few rotation changes seem to be having a positive impact.
NR-S played again on Thursday, Sept. 14 against Carrington, and their next game will be played against Drake-Anamoose on Monday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m.
Nonregion Volleyball
Thursday, September 7
NR-S 3, BCN 0
at Barnes County
BCN 9 10 10 - 0
NR-S 25 25 25 - 3
NR-S Individual Stats
Kills: Kelsie Belquist 7, Lucy Meier 7, Addysen Fandrich 5, Kaiya O'Connor 2, Lora Wobbema 3, Ava Peterson 1.
Assists: Peterson 12, Alivia Yri 5. Belquist 2, Meier 3.
Aces: Logan Cudworth 8, Wobbema 4, Peterson 2, Belquist 2.
Blocks: Peterson 2, Fandrich 1, Wobbema 1, Ava Bullinger 1, Meier 1.
Digs: Belquist 9, Peterson 5, Cudworth 4, Yri 3, O'Connor 3, Meier 2, Wobbema 1, Bailey Jacobson 1.
