Party crashers: Rockets spoil Cards' Homecoming at net, 3-1

In her tenure leading the NR-S Rocket volleyball program, Sara Myhre has one big ticket list item that her team hasn't accomplished.

Defeating their rivals from 16 miles down Highway 281, the Carrington Cardinals.

Mark Thursday, September 14, 2023 on that calendar, as the Rockets, behind a big match from senior All-State performer Kelsie Belquist, took a 29-27, 12-25, 25-21 and 26-24 victory at CHS' East Gym in front of a raucous Cardinal crowd during their Homecoming Week.

Senior middle hitter Lora Wobbema's kill to give the Rockets the match in the fourth set was the first time the Rockets have bested the team in red and white in many years.

"[Carrington's] one of those teams, you don't give them a fifth set," Myhre said. "Just like [Region 4 power] Langdon. They've always been tough competition for us, and last night, we competed, and we never gave up out on the court. It's been really rewarding as a coach to see the growth in their confidence and mental toughness over the past few seasons."

After the second set, in which the Cards cut through the Rocket defenses with little resistance in a 13-point victory, Myhre let her team know her displeasure.

"I chewed them out a little bit," she said with a hint of a smirk. "We were letting them get in our heads."

The Rockets nearly took down the Cards last season in New Rockford, but Myhre's group squandered a 2-0 match lead and watched the Cards celebrate a five-set win on their home court.

Last year's bitter loss served as a catalyst for bigger and better things, as NR-S retooled their rotation and rode that momentum into the first State Class B Tournament appearance in program history, defeating Langdon/Edmore/Munich in four sets and taking home fifth place in the 2022 tourney in Bismarck.

This year's anticipated showdown put NR-S against a Cardinal team that, though they lack the hitting power of CHS squads past, are never ones to surrender points without a fight.

Set one featured numerous lead changes, and it looked as if Carrington was going to take set one late with a 24-21 lead. The Rockets stormed back for three straight tallies to force extra points, and each team had chances to take the set. It wasn't until 28-27 that the Rockets would prevail.

NR-S would go up 6-0 in set three, but the Cards would make a go of it, challenging the visitors point-for-point.

That was the cue for Belquist to get the competitive juices flowing. As arguably the best female athlete in the state regardless of classification, Belquist made use of her soaring vertical leaping ability, powerful swings, and a bit of guile to get the Rocket attack over the hump.

Belquist would lead all players with 25 kills on the evening, and also keyed the Rockets' back court with a team-high 23 digs.

"She really took off her sophomore year," said Myhre of Belquist. "Kelsie's so incredibly talented, as far as her athleticism, and how she can move out on the court. I've really enjoyed watching her growth over the past few seasons."

It was much of the same in set four, but with Carrington capturing the momentary lightning in the bottle, before ultimately faltering down the stretch.

"We kept our head in the game for the third and fourth set, limited our errors, and played really good volleyball," Myhre said. "Our three seniors, Lucy [Meier], Kelsie and Lora have really stepped up this season as far as building each other up on and off the court, and really showing what it means to be a team player."

Wobbema also added eight kills for NR-S, along with sophomore Ava Peterson. They were also a force at the net, notching three blocks apiece, and Peterson hoisted up 37 assists.

Kaiya O'Connor, a junior, was on point from the back line, adding three aces for the Rockets.

Defeat for the Cardinals was tough, but Coach Megan Trautman's group showed some promise with freshman Harper Kollman making some big plays. The left-handed Kollman showed no fear in the moment, converting on a few key kills to keep the Cards in contention, and had a great showing with 10 kills, 14 digs, two assists and a block.

Cardinal senior hitter Madison Johnson led a balanced CHS effort with 15 kills, and junior Isabel Wendel finished with 11. The two also finished with 27 and 23 digs, behind statistical leader in that department, libero Kenadie Pazdernik. Wendel also chipped in for 12 assists, and had three blocks and two service aces. Kacie Rexin set up 21 assists, and Kaydence VanRay earned top blocker distinction with four stuffs.

New Rockford-Sheyenne improved their record to 3-1 on the season, with just a loss to Thompson on August 29 in the first match of the year. Carrington, meanwhile, fell to 3-2 on the season, and jump into the lion's den that is the District 5 race on Tuesday, September 19, when they face league contender LaMoure/Litchville-Marion.

Nonregion Volleyball

NR-S 3, Carrington 1

at Carrington

NR-S 29 12 25 27 - 3

Cgtn. 27 25 21 25 - 1

NR-S Individual Statistics

Kills: Kelsie Belquist 25, Ava Peterson and Lora Wobbema 8, Kaiya O'Connor 6, Lucy Meier 4.

Assists: Peterson 37, Wobbema 5, Belquist and Meier 2, Logan Cudworth, Addysen Fandrich and O'Connor 1.

Aces: O'Connor 3, Belquist, Cudworth and Wobbema 1.

Blocks: Peterson and Wobbema 3, Belquist and Fandrich 2, Meier 1.

Digs: Belquist 23, O'Connor 17, Meier 15, Cudworth and Peterson 13, Wobbema 6, Fandrich 1.

Carrington Individual Statistics

Kills: Madison Johnson 15, Isabel Wendel 11, Harper Kollman 10, Kaydence VanRay 5, Mercedes Lura 4, Kacie Rexin 2, Edyn Hoornaert 1.

Assists: Rexin 21, Wendel 12, Johnson 4, Kollman 2.

Aces: Rexin and Wendel 2, Kenadie Pazdernik 1.

Blocks: VanRay 4, Lura and Wendel 3, Hoornaert, Johnson, Kollman and Lura 1.

Digs: Pazdernik 38, Wendel 27, Johnson 23, Rexin 22, Kollman 14, Lura 7, Hoornaert 6, VanRay 2.

Junior Varsity:

Carrington 2, NR-S 0

(25-13, 25-16)

C-Squad:

Carrington 1, NR-S 1

(25-15, 25-25)

Junior high scores not available.