Thunder advance with 4-set semifinal victory over CHS

All you needed to know about the stakes for what passes as the most intense cross-district rivalry in Region 3 was the timeout strategy shared by the two respective coaches.

Carrington and M/P-B did their level best to make sure that neither opposing side gained too much momentum for crucial point runs, and that showed itself in the final score.

The Thunder continued their quest towards potential glory with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-19) Region 3 semifinal win over CHS Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Hazelton, earning themselves a date with the top team in Class B, Linton-HMB, in the championship this past Thursday.

In contrast to their first meeting this year in the regular season finale in Pingree, a three-set Thunder sweep, Carrington served notice that they would not be intimidated by M/P-B's energetic attack.

The teams traded the first 12 points at 6-6 before the Cards built a 12-7 cushion which included kills from Calleigh Hewitt and Harper Kollman, along with an ace from Edyn Hoornaert. A Mercedes Lura kill gave CHS their biggest lead of set one at 18-11, and they held off the Thunder for a five-point win and budding confidence they could spring the upset.

M/P-B started off set two with an 8-5 lead, and largely kept the Cards at arms' length for much of the set, leading in the middle third by a 17-12 score following a CHS return error. Two Isabel Wendel kills and one from Kaydence VanRay got Carrington within 21-20, and they also had a shot to force extra points following a Kenadie Pazdernik ace at 24-23. Maddie Gefroh shut those plans down for the Thunder with a set-ending kill to tie the match.

Set three went down similarly to the second set, with the Thunder establishing control early at 9-4 and maintaining that lead to 15-9. This time, a big Cardinal run of 8-1 would allow them to take the lead at 17-16 when a Gefroh kill was overturned on a net violation. Hewitt gave the Cards a 21-19 advantage with a kill, and they had a 23-22 lead late before the Thunder closed out the set with three straight points on Cierra Mack's serve.

Aside from a few early points, the closing set belonged to the Thunder, and specifically junior outside hitter Brynn Sorenson.

Sorenson began to take over play after a Wendel kill brought CHS to within 16-13, pounding three straight kills to put M/P-B firmly in the driver's seat. She would have two more kills down the stretch, and finished with a team-high 22 for the Thunder. Sorenson also kept many points alive with her hustle, earning 25 digs, while libero Mack had 27 to pace the team.

Gefroh also was a load for the Cards to contain, hitting for 19 kills, and her mobility on the block altered many CHS attack plans with five stuff blocks.

Violet Bohl had 39 assists for the Thunder, to go along with three tip kills to keep the Cardinal defense on their toes.

Carrington was led by Wendel's 15 kills and 10 from Kollman in the loss. Brynn Smith had 23 assists and three aces, and Pazdernik finished with 44 digs along with Kollman's 36.

Hoornaert and VanRay combined for five blocks.

The loss put the Cards (20-11) in the third place match on Thursday against Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier, victims of a sweep at the hands of Linton-HMB in the other semifinal.

A win for CHS in that match would serve as a sendoff for seven seniors who have helped keep the Cardinal program in the upper portion of District 5 and Region 3 in their volleyball careers.

The Thunder advanced to their first Region 3 championship match since the 2017 season, which is to date the only appearance they have made on the State B doorstep. That year, they fell to eventual state champion LaMoure/L-M in four sets.

Region 3 Volleyball

Tournament, Hazelton

Semifinals

M/P-B 3, Carrington 1

M/P-B 20 25 ­ 25 25 - 3

Cgtn. 25 23 ­ 23 19 - 1

CHS Individual Stats

Kills: Isabel Wendel 15, Harper Kollman 10, Mercedes Lura 7, Calleigh Hewitt and Kaydence VanRay 6, Edyn Hoornaert 3.

Assists: Brynn Smith 23, Wendel 19.

Aces: Smith 3, Hoornaert, Lura and Kenadie Pazdernik 1.

Blocks: Hoornaert 3, VanRay 2, Hewitt and Wendel 1.

Digs: Pazdernik 44, Kollman 36, Lura 15, Wendel 14, Smith 7, Hewitt and VanRay 5, Hoornaert 3.

M/P-B Individual Stats

Kills: Brynn Sorenson 22, Maddie Gefroh 19, Jorgen Tripp 5, Destiny Opp 4, Violet Bohl 3, Cierra Mack and Shayla Martin 1.

Assists: Bohl 39, Mack 2, Tripp 1.

Aces: Mack 3, Bohl and Sorenson 1.

Blocks: Gefroh 5, Martin 2, Bohl 1.

Digs: Mack 27, Sorenson 25, Bohl 21, Gefroh 15, Samantha Reister 13, Tripp 7, Opp 3.