Cards outlast Tommies in thriller

The Thompson Tommies have always been on the short list of who's who in North Dakota Class B high school volleyball.

Six-time defending Region 2 champions, including eight out of the last 10 years, five Class B championships and a coach (Lisa Strand) with over 1,000 career victories, means that their opponents have to bring their 'A' game to have a shot at a win.

Carrington did just that Thursday night, August 31, and showed that they have the players to compete for postseason glory of their own.

The Cards took the first set, 25-19, and the battle of two mostly evenly-matched sides went to the Tommies in the next two sets, before a big surge in the fourth set and dominance in the fifth delivered a 25-19, 18-25, 14-25, 25-16 and 15-7 in the East Gym.

"I think we can chalk a good portion of our success to defending the ball," said CHS Coach Megan Trautman. "Also, we passed well and covered the floor in the back row, as well as defending the net against a team of really great attackers at every position."

While not possessing hitters that hit overly hard, the Tommies are a squad that possess great situational awareness, along with a knack for finding open spots on the court and hitting through blocks, and not surrendering points easily.

Senior 6'1" middle/outside hitter Brenna Martin made great use of her height and reach, posting a match-high 24 kills for the Tommies in the five-set defeat.

CHS went with the hitter-by-committee approach which has served them well over the past few seasons.

Senior Madison Johnson finished with 16 kills in the victory, and two others, juniors Isabel Wendel and Edyn Hoornaert, also hit in double digits with 11 and 10 kills.

With Martin's active attack and five sets worth of it, there were plenty of blocking opportunities, and the Cards were more than equal to the task.

Kaydence VanRay had her second straight match of leading CHS in blocks with seven. Hoornaert, Mercedes Lura and Wendel each finished with three.

When Wendel wasn't on offense, she was helping facilitate it, along with senior co-setter Kacie Rexin. The two combined for 39 assists.

The defense also featured dual 40-dig performances by Johnson and libero Kenadie Pazdernik.

"Our girls stayed calm, took each possession as it came and remained fearless," said Trautman.

Thompson's periods of sustained offensive success often coincided with service runs. In sets two and three, senior Sydney Schwabe helped establish momentum for the Tommies with extended strings of points.

Another big run to start set four looked like the Cards were beginning to run out of gas, but Trautman's team would score the next 25 of 35 points to force set five.

Carrington's service game, meanwhile, was short on power but high on efficiency. Their two aces, both coming from Rexin, came at the most crucial points of set five.

"We wouldn't have been victorious without continuing to attack the ball both offensively and defensively," said Trautman. "I was very proud of their fight, and support of one another."

Nonregion Volleyball

Carrington 3, Thompson 2

at Carrington

Thom. 19 25 25 16 7 - 2

Cgtn. 25 18 14 25 15 - 3

Carrington Individual Stats

Kills: Madison Johnson 16, Isabel Wendel 11, Edyn Hoornaert 10, Mercedes Lura 5, Kacie Rexin 4, Kaydence VanRay 3.

Assists: Wendel 22, Rexin 17, Johnson and Kenadie Pazdernik 2.

Aces: Rexin 2.

Blocks: VanRay 7, Hoornaert, Lura and Wendel 3, Johnson and Rexin 2.

Digs: Johnson and Pazdernik 40, Wendel 29, Rexin 21, Hoornaert 17, Lura 5, VanRay 3, Sydney Friedt 1.

Thompson Statistical Leaders

Kills: Brenna Martin 24.

Nonregion Volleyball

Tuesday, August 29

Carrington 3, HWC 0

at Harvey

Cgtn. 25 25 25 - 3

HWC 15 12 20 - 0

Carrington Individual Stats

Kills: Johnson 16, Wendel 9, Hoornaert and Rexin 6, VanRay 5, Lura 4, Friedt 1.

Assists: Wendel 23, Rexin 17, Lura 2.

Aces: Rexin 2, Lura and Wendel 1.

Blocks: VanRay 4, Wendel 2, Hoornaert and Rexin 1.

Digs: Pazdernik 38, Johnson 30, Hoornaert 14, Rexin 11, Lura 8, Wendel 7, Friedt 4, VanRay 2.