by Run4Fun2009 » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:38 am
The East volleyball all-stars showed just how resilient they are.
The East found a way to stage a come-from-behind rally in Game 3 after digging a big hole. That game result helped the East produce a 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19 match victory over the West all-stars in the second match of the Optimist series on Tuesday night at Century's Linette Olson gym.
Team East picked up a 3-1 victory in Fargo on Monday night in the series' first match.
"This is awesome," said Grand Forks Red River middle hitter Emily Asche, who plans to play volleyball at the University of North Dakota this fall. "The West is a good team, and we beat them twice."
The East won a fifth game, which was played just for fun, 15-6. Match stats were compiled through five sets.
The East faced a tough challenge in Game 3, after dropping the second set.
The East trailed 11-2, and the West appeared to be in control. The East rattled off a quick 5-0 run spearheaded by two kills from Asche and an ace from Hillary Rotonda of Fargo Shanley. That narrowed the deficit to 12-7.
The East benefitted from another rally, this one 7-0 with kills from Sydney Larson of Park River, Jill Gustafson of West Fargo, and Mikkaela Toenies of Hillsboro. Another kill from Gustafson knotted the score at 18.
The East closed the set with a 4-0 run, taking advantage of two hitting errors and two kills from Gustafson.
Winning that third game was an important part of the East being able to close the match.
"Our coaches said just move your feet and have fun," Asche said. "We were kind of down on ourselves from the second game.
"I thought for sure that we wouldn't be able to come back. We've all been in so many games before that we were able to come back. The third game was key because that probably would have meant a fifth game, and a fifth game is so nerve racking."
Dickinson hitter Jess Herauf said the West just lost its focus during that key stretch.
"We just stopped talking," said Herauf, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter. "Once they started going on a roll, they snowballed off of that. We just didn't respond as well as we should have.
"If you're selected in this, everybody has skills. If you keep your intensity up, that's the team that's going to win it."
West libero Tessa Neameyer was named the game's MVP. The Century senior finished the match with 27 digs for a new series record.
Herauf paced the West with 14 kills and Niki Schmitz of Jamestown added 12. Josette Glatt of Bismarck led with four blocks and added six kills.
Bismarck setter Erin Haugen led the West with 15 assists.
Herauf said it would have been nice for the West to take at least one match from the East, but getting swept in the series didn't take away from the enjoyment.
"This is the most fun I've ever had playing on a team," Herauf said. "It's funny because you think everybody in the state is a rival and you'll never get along with them. I'm leaving with 11 best friends. It stunk that we didn't win, but we had so much fun it was worth it."
Raquel Wellentin of Fargo South and Jill Gustafson of West Fargo put down 13 kills apiece to lead the East. Asche added 12 and Rotonda 11.
Mandy Christian of Red River totaled 20 assists and Paula Nagel of Linton-HMB led with 20 digs
East 25 22 25 25
West 21 25 23 19
EAST: Kills - Jill Gustafson 13, Raquel Wellentin 13, Emily Asche 12, Hillary Rotonda 11. Blocks - Rotonda 2, Asche 1, Raquel Wellentin 1, Sheyenne Schneider 1. Assists - Mandy Christian 20, Brittney Held 13. Digs - Paula Nagel 20, Sydney Larson 16, Schneider 13. Aces - Gustafson 2, Rotonda 1, Christian 1, Held 1, Nagel 1, Schneider 1, Larson 1.
WEST: Kills - Jess Herauf 14, Niki Schmitz 12, Josette Glatt 6. Blocks - Glatt 4, Herauf 2. Assists - Erin Haugen 15, Kara Froelich 11. Marti Quale 10. Digs - Tessa Neameyer 27, Haugen 12, Marti Quale 12. Aces - Mataya Grigsby 2, Froelich 1.