Thunder fall to Rebs, Rockets

The good feelings that accompanied the first week-and-change of the 2023 volleyball season for the M-P-B Thunder took a few temporary setbacks Thursday evening, August 31, in Edgeley, and last Tuesday night in New Rockford.

In a 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 17-25, 23-25) loss to the Edgeley-Kulm/Montpelier Rebels, the Thunder battled point-by-point, but couldn't get the crucial points late in sets to hold off an athletic home squad.

Junior Maddie Gefroh's 14 kills were a team-best, trailed closely behind by 13 from Allison Thomas. Sophomore Brynn Sorenson finished with 11 in defeat on M-P-B's side.

Violet Bohl converted on 31 assists for the Thunder, who fell to 5-2 overall with the loss to E-K-M. Thomas was active on defense against the Rebs' net attack with 41 digs, followed by 26 from libero Alaina Bosche and 24 more from Sorenson. Cierra Mack also had 15 digs.

Thomas and Jorgen Tripp had the two blocks on M-P-B's side of the ledger, and Thomas, Sorenson and Mack all struck aces.

NR-S 3, M-P-B 2

Last Tuesday's battle with the NR-S Rockets featured two teams with aspirations for state qualification in their respective regions.

The defending Region 4 champion Rockets came out on top in a five-set instant classic, 15-25, 25-16, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-10.

For the winners, senior standout Kelsie Belquist pounded down 23 kills, and also was the top digger for NR-S with 18 saves. Lucy Meier had a solid match alongside Belquist, striking 13 kills, and Lora Wobbema hit eight more for the Rockets.

NR-S put up an astounding 29 blocks in the match. Addysen Fandrich was the leader in the clubhouse for that category with seven. Ava Peterson passed for 41 assists, and paced the Rockets with three aces.

Sorenson's 16 kills led M-P-B, who fell to 5-3 overall. Thomas had 14 and Gefroh 10.

M-P-B enters District 6 play for the first time Tuesday, when they head south to Ashley to square off against the South Border Mustangs. The junior high match begins play at 3:30 p.m.

On Thursday, the bus hits the pavement once again for an A-B-C affair with Region 3 contender LaMoure/Litchville-Marion in LaMoure, beginning at 5 p.m.

Saturday will feature the second tournament of the season for the Thunder, the Valley City Optimist Tournament.

Nondistrict Volleyball

E-K-M 3, M-P-B 1

at Edgeley

M-P-B 25 21 17 23 - 1

E-K-M 23 25 25 25 - 3

M-P-B Individual Stats

Kills: Maddie Gefroh 14, Allison Thomas 13, Brynn Sorenson 11, Cierra Mack 2.

Assists: Violet Bohl 31.

Aces: Mack, Sorenson and Thomas 1.

Blocks: Thomas and Jorgen Tripp 1.

Digs: Thomas 41, Alaina Bosche 26, Sorenson 24, Mack 15, Gefroh 6, Bohl 4, Tripp 3.

Nonregion Volleyball

NR-S 3, M-P-B 2

at New Rockford

M-P-B 25 16 23 25 10 - 2

NR-S 15 25 25 23 15 - 3

M-P-B Individual Stats

Kills: Sorenson 16, Thomas 14, Gefroh 10, Bohl 3, Mack 1.

Assists: Bohl 33, Sorenson 3, Bosche and Thomas 1.

Aces: Bohl, Bosche and Thomas 2, Gefroh and Mack 1.

Blocks: Thomas 3, Gefroh 2, Mack and Tripp 1.

Digs: Thomas 24, Sorenson 20, Bosche 17, Bohl 14, Mack 13, Gefroh 4.

NR-S Individual Stats

Kills: Kelsie Belquist 23, Lucy Meier 13, Lora Wobbema 8, Kaiya O'Connor and Ava Peterson 5, Addysen Fandrich 2.

Assists: Peterson 41, O'Connor 5, Belquist and Wobbema 2, Logan Cudworth and Fandrich 1.

Aces: Peterson 3, O'Connor 2, Meier 1.

Blocks: Fandrich 7, Belquist and Wobbema 6, Meier and Peterson 5.

Digs: Belquist 18, Cudworth and Peterson 15, Meier and O'Connor 11, Wobbema 4, Fandrich 1.