County teams have played 34 matches that have gone either four or five sets, including 15 five-set matches this season. The week of Monday, October 7 had five five-set contests, R-P and Kingsland each doing two.
Ten Sets in Two Days for Trojans
Rushford-Peterson volleyball hadn’t really had a marquee moment, or set of moments on the year. The Trojans entered the week with an 8-14 record. But then they did a lot of extra work and got a couple wins; a ten sets in two night’s sequence. On Monday, the Trojans hosted D-E for a non-conference match. R-P beat the Eagles 3-1 (25-10, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24) on September 26. D-E was even more competitive in the rematch, as they jumped out to a 2-1 lead only for the Trojans to rally for the 3-2 win. Nikki Schultz’s group even needed nearly a full (to 25) set in game five to get the ‘W’. Scores were 25-21, 19-25, 20-25, 25-23, and 22-20. R-P notched 124 digs, led by stand-out junior libero Alyvia Eide (36 digs). Elly Malone (23 digs), Lakyn Rasmussen (14 digs), Hannah Ronnenberg (13 digs), and Isabelle Kahoun (13 assists, 10 digs) also got to double digits. Kaleah Davis (10 kills, 3 aces) and Kaylee Ruberg (6 kills, 5 blks) led an offense that had just 21 kills. A night later, the Trojans trekked to St. Charles and notched probably their best win of the year over a Saint squad ahead of them in the standings. It again took five sets and again happened in down 2-1 fashion. Scores were 25-21, 23-25, 27-29, 25-20, and 15-12. The Trojans had 114 digs, led by Eide’s 32. Malone (22 digs, 22-24 serving, 4 aces), Rasmussen (7 kills, 17 digs, 23-23 serving), and Kahoun (25 assists, 15 digs, 23-25 serving, 3 aces) also got to double digits while doing a ton of serving. Offensively, Ruberg (13 kills, 9 digs, 5 blks) and Davis (12 kills) led the way. The Saints’ (6-4, 11-12) previous games were 3-2 wins over Cotter (6-4, 16-8) and W-K (5-5, 12-15).
Knights/Burros, Knights/Lions Go Long
Kingsland also had a pair of five set matches. On Tuesday, Lanesboro overcome a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Knights 3-2 (19-25, 25-16, 16-25, 25-22, 15-12) in a battle of junior hitters, Burro Sydney Taylor versus Knight Ellie Buchholtz. Taylor (22 kills, 17 digs, 3 ½ blks, 6 aces) was huge for the winners, aided by Ella Cambern (41 assists, 12 digs, 22-23 serving), Kaci Ruen (13 kills, 17 digs, 15-15 serving, 3 aces), Jessie Schreiber (12 kills), Malia Tessum (24 digs), and Payton Benson (17 digs). The Knights got a huge night from Buchholtz (25 kills, 14 digs). Alyssa Link (23 assists, 13 digs), Audrey Webster (16 digs), Shelby Beck (6 kills), and Emily Miner (5 kills) helped. Lanesboro is now 9-4, 15-13. Two nights later, the Knights got their best win, taking down SEC-East second place squad Spring Grove (9-3, 18-8). Again Kingsland led 2-1, but this time they prevailed 3-2 (25-19, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14). Buchholtz (season-county-high 29 kills, 14 digs) was huge. Beck (season-high 14 kills) also got to double digits. Caitlin Miner added 4 kills and 4 blocks. Link (season-high 39 assists) set the table while Webster (21 digs, 3 aces), Anika Reiland (15 digs), and Hannah Peshel (12 digs) got to defensive double digits. Kingsland is now 6-7, 7-17.
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