The Britton-Hecla volleyball squad battled a strong Hamlin unit (20-1) but lost in straight sets on Thursday 25-16, 25-19, 25-14.
Coach Jenna Peters’ squad stood at 13-9 heading into its match with Great Plains Lutheran last night Tuesday. This week the Lady Braves play Clark-Willow Lake at Clark on Friday and host Wilmot in their final regular season contest on Tuesday. Region 1A tournament play begins on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“The girls played well against Hamlin,” said Peters. “Although we lost, we hustled and had great energy. I’m hoping that energy will continue and get us wins to end the season. Great Plains Lutheran, Clark-Willow Lake, and Wilmot will all be tough games but our girls can beat them if they keep up the hustle and energy.”
The B-H girls played Hamlin on even terms for half of the first two sets but the visitors came up with some big runs to take charge of the match.
In set one the Lady Braves led 11-8, thanks in part to four Hamlin missed serves and kills from McKenna Heer and Abby Lee. But Hamlin responded with an 11-2 run behind some strong net play to grab a 19-13 lead. Lee pounded another kill to close the gap to 19-16 but the visitors scored the final six points.
Hamlin jumped out to a 10-5 lead in set two but blocks by Mallory Grupe and Maddie Micko and a Lee kill knotted the contest at 11-all. The Chargers went on an 8-2 run to lead 19-13. B-H managed to stay within striking distance at 23-19 on a Heather Strobakken ace but didn’t score again.
Set three was all Hamlin. The Chargers jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Lady Braves cut the margin to 8-5 behind kills by Lee, Heer, and Karlie Zuehlke. But then the visitors ripped off 11 straight points to lead 19-5 decide the issue.
SERVING: 46-49, 3 aces (Heather Storbakken 13-14, 1 ace; Maddi Micko 11-11; Karlie Zuehlke 8-8, 1 ace)
HITTING: BH, 70-84, 17 kills (Abby Lee 17-21, 6 kills; Jaelee Grupe 16-17, 4 kills; McKenna Heer 11-13, 3 kills; K. Zuehlke 9-12, 2 kills; Micko 8-9, 1 kill)
SETTING: BH, 81-81, 14 assists (Storbakken 26-26, 7 assists; Grupe 33-33, 5 assists; Annika Tank 5-5, 2 assists)
DIGS: BH, 43 (Daynika Zuehlke 7, Grupe 6, Storbakken 6, Ava Teveldal 5, K. Zuehlke 5)
BLOCKS: BH, 2 (Lee 1 block, 1 assist; Chellon Pruitt 1 block)
Groton Area 25-25-25
B-H 18-12-19
(too late for last week’s paper)
SERVING: BH, 46-50, 3 aces (Jaelee Grupe 11-11; Maddi Micko 10-10, 1 ace; Heather Storbakken 8-9, 1 ace; Daynika Zuehlke 9-10; Karlie Zuehlke 6-6, 1 ace)
HITTING: BH, 84-100, 25 kills (Abby Lee 13-16, 6 kills; McKenna Heer 19-22, 5 kills; J. Grupe 18-20, 5 kills; K. Zuehlke 14-16, 4 kills; Micko 11-13, 4 kills)
SETTING: BH, 95-95, 22 assists (Storbakken 47-47, 11 assists; J. Grupe 32-32, 8 assists)
DIGS: BH, 44 (D. Zuehlke 10, Annika Tank 8, J. Grupe 7)
BLOCKS: BH, 1 (Lee 1)
