Titans take down HWC in four sets

The Griggs-Midkota Titans won a tight third game, 25-23, and took the steam out of HWC defeating the Hornets, 3 sets to 1 in Fessenden on Thursday, September 15.

In the first of three close games to start the match, the Hornets found themselves out front, 14-9, courtesy of kills from Christalea Wagner and Ashley Keller.

The Titans, behind the heavy hitting of senior Asia Becherl, stormed back to tie the game at 14 with the help of kills from Becherl and Andie Anderson. Emma Dockter smashed down back-to-back kills for a Hornet 20-17 lead, but Becherl had her own back-to-back kills to help tie the game at 20. An ace from Kayme Bartz was answered by another Becherl kill as the two teams were tied four times in the final six points.

With the score tied at 26, the Titans scored on a kill attempt that was long and ended game one with one more Becherl kill for a 28-26 win.

HWC and Griggs-Midkota were tight as they opened play in the second set, as the teams were tied three times in the first 16 points. With Andie Anderson serving, the Titans scored eight straight to open up what seemed to be a large 14-8 lead.

The Hornets slowly fought their way back into the game with kills from Keller, Larissa Arnold, Dockter and aces from Bartz and Dockter. HWC eventually tied the game at 20 all on a missed kill attempt. Arnold had back-to-back aces to make the score 23-21 and then added another ace to end game two for HWC, winning 25-21.

When teams split the first two games in volleyball, the third game's importance is magnified immensely. HWC got the better of both teams at the start as the Hornets jumped out early to lead 7-3. A kill from Rachel Neumiller and an ace from Kali Fike kept Griggs-Midkota at bay. An Arnold kill at 15-10 gave HWC their largest lead, but a lead that would not hold up against the Titans.

A kill from Isabelle Kraft and another from Becherl helped the Titans tie the game at 16 all. Three kills from Becherl, an ace from Anderson and another kill from Becherl would doom the Hornets late as the visitors led 22-17. HWC used a Bartz kill to pull to within 23-24, but a net violation against the Hornets gave the Titans a 25-23 win.

Game four turned out to be the final game of the evening and was nothing like the previous three competitive games. Becherl again was unstoppable at the net, as the senior slugged down four kills early to give G-M an 11-4 lead. Ryleigh Miller had two kills midway through game four as the lead grew to 17-8. Three more kills from Becherl and a kill from Kaylee Johnson would end the night for HWC, as the Titans won game four, 25-11, and the match, 3-1.

Becherl would have outstanding stats on the night as the six-footer pounded down 27 kills, five blocks, seven digs and two aces. Kaylee Johnson added 12 kills and Ryan Johnson on fire from the setter position with 37 assists.

Vanessa Vollmer led three players in double digit digs with 22. Lauryn Halvorson (20) and Ryan Johnson (17) also had great nights digging the ball.

The Hornets got a nice all-around game from Arnold. The senior had seven kills, four aces, 10 digs and two blocks. Keller added five blocks and six kills, while Dockter had two aces, seven kills and 17 digs. Delaney Erfle led HWC with 18 digs, while Bartz led in assists with 19.

The win moved Griggs-Midkota to 2-1 on the season, while HWC fell to 4-5 overall.

Nonregion Volleyball

Griggs/Midkota 3, HWC 1

at Fessenden

G-M 28 21 25 25 - 3

HWC 26 25 23 11 - 1

HWC Individual Stats

Kills: Larissa Arnold and Emma Dockter 7, Ashley Keller 6, Christalea Wagner 5, Kayme Bartz and Aubree Wolfe 3, Rachel Neumiller 2.

Aces: Arnold 4, Bartz and Dockter 2, Delaney Erfle and Kali Fike 1.

Assists: Bartz 19, Fike 5, Dockter, Keller and Wagner 1.

Blocks: Keller 5, Arnold and Bartz 2, Fike and Wolfe 1.

Digs: Erfle 18, Dockter 17, Arnold and Wagner 10, Wolfe 9, Keller 7, Neumiller 5, Fike and Ava Haldorson 2.

Griggs/Midkota Individual Stats

Kills: Asia Becherl 27, Kaylee Johnson 12, Andie Anderson 7, Lauryn Halvorson and Ryleigh Miller 5, Vanessa Vollmer 1.

Aces: Becherl 2, Anderson and Ryan Johnson 1.

Assists: R. Johnson 37, Isabelle Kraft 5, Becherl and Halvorson 2, Anderson and Miller 1.

Blocks: Becherl 5, R. Johnson 2, Anderson and Halvorson 1.

Digs: Vollmer 22, Halvorson 20, R. Johnson 17, Kraft 9, Anderson and Becherl 7, K. Johnson 6, Miller 2.