The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
M-P-B libero Alaina Bosche goes the one-handed route to attempt to make a save on this Oakes serve. It was the final match of Bosche's volleyball career, as she is one of the two Thunder seniors.
Brynn Sorenson follows through on an attack from behind the M-P-B side of the net against Oakes blockers Lily Thorpe (left) and Kassidy Jackson (right).
Thunder Head Coach Jacie Connell applauds a good play by her team on the court. Connell completed her 11th year as M-P-B coach, leading the squad to a 24-10 record, first place in the District 6 regular season, and second place at the tournament in Napoleon.
If nothing else, the Medina/Pingree-Buchanan Thunder left 2023 Region 3 volleyball fans with an everlasting memory of a team refusing to go gently into the night, and some respect for their heart and fortitude.
M-P-B's season at the volleyball net came to a painful conclusion in a four-set defeat to the Oakes Tornadoes in the first round of regional play in Ellendale Monday, November 6.
But, in true Thunder fashion, they made their opponent sweat out each and every volley, spike and dig, and that pluck was no more apparent than what they did in set three.
Already down 2-0 after dropping 26-28 and 15-25 sets, M-P-B and Oakes engaged in an elimination set for the ages, forging 16 ties and 10 changes of lead before the Thunder ultimately prevailed in a torturous, but exhilarating, 34-32 victory.
The Thunder would have to contain their euphoria and get back to the task at hand, but Oakes got the early advantage at 9-3. M-P-B would make the comeback and lead late in an attempt to force the fifth set; however, Oakes' blocking and attacking game got them the last crucial points to eliminate the Thunder and end their season at 24-10.
M-P-B made use of sophomore Brynn Sorenson's 17 kills, along with 37 digs. Maddie Gefroh had 15 kills and 12 digs for a double-double, along with a block, and senior libero Alaina Bosche left it all on the court with 35 digs.
Bosche, along with Violet Bohl, Cierra Mack and Jorgen Tripp, had two service aces. Bohl finished with 24 assists on the Thunder stat sheet.
Back row contributors also included 22 digs from Mack, and Samantha Reister played admirably against the Oakes offense with 13 digs.
The Tornadoes' Ann Muggli dominated play with 22 kills, and numerous stuff blocks. Brianna Schmitz also hit for 11 kills, and Lily Thorpe added nine.
Bethany Harris finished with 31 assists, and has over 1,000 and counting for her Oakes career. Three different Tornado players had 19 digs in their victory.
Coming into play, Coach Jacie Connell's team had a better-than-even chance to challenge for the Region 3 title, in what is widely considered to be the most competitive region top to bottom in the state.
Unfortunately for the Thunder, senior and District 6 Athlete of the Year Allison Thomas sustained a season-ending knee injury in the district semifinal match, and M-P-B was forced to change up their rotation to account for the absence of their 1,000-plus kill, 2,000-plus dig standout.
Thomas, along with Bosche, are the Thunder's two graduating seniors, meaning that the program is well-positioned for a return to contention in 2024.
The Thunder's defeat capped a District 5 sweep in the first round of the Region 3 Tournament. Carrington sprang a 3-1 upset over district champion Linton-HMB (see related article), while LaMoure/Litchville-Marion and Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier earned sweeps against South Border and Kidder County, respectively, in the other elimination matches.
Region 3 Volleyball
Tournament, Ellendale
Quarterfinals
Oakes 3, M-P-B 1
Oakes 28 25 32 25 - 3
M-P-B 26 15 34 23 - 1
M-P-B Individual Stats
Kills: Brynn Sorenson 17, Maddie Gefroh 15, Jorgen Tripp 3, Violet Bohl and Shayla Martin 2, Alaina Bosche and Cierra Mack 1.
Aces: Bohl, Bosche, Mack and Tripp 2, Gefroh 1.
Assists: Bohl 24.
Blocks: Gefroh 1.
Digs: Sorenson 37, Bosche 35, Mack 22, Samantha Reister 13, Gefroh 12, Bohl 11, Tripp 9.
Oakes Statistical Leaders
Kills: Ann Muggli 22, Brianna Schmitz 11, Lily Thorpe 9, Paige Bakke 5.
Aces: Mallory Domine, Kassidy Jackson and Schmitz 2.
Assists: Bethany Harris 31, Jackson 9.
Digs: Domine, Lexi Harris and Jackson 19, Schmitz 17.
