SIOUX FALLS Sioux Valley dropped its opening match in the Class A State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday night as the Cossacks lost to Hamlin in four sets.
No. 2 seeded Hamlin took the first set and No. 7 seeded Sioux Valley responded with a win in set two to even things up. The Chargers then ran away with the third set and won a close fourth set to close things out.
The Cossacks (24-7) trailed for most of the match and almost every time they would get within a point or tied things up Hamlin (25-1) would go on a run. Sioux Valley head coach Jill Vincent said she thought her team didnt do a good job of getting over their mistakes.
I think some of those runs were because we werent forgetting the last play. If we made a mistake we were dwelling on it and letting it eat us up. So, we really had to think with a clear mind and I dont think we did that all the time, and [Hamlin] had a pretty good game plan coming in, Vincent said.
This is the first trip to the state tournament for the Cossacks since 2017. Vincent said she thought her team looked nervous due to the fact that theyve never been in that kind of atmosphere or moment.
[There were] definitely [nerves], and there probably always is. Some of these girls have never been [to the Denny Sanford Premier Center] in these last four years and didnt know what to expect or anything. I think that had a lot to do with it, Vincent said.
Sioux Valley got out to an early lead in the first set but the Chargers then took command and came away with a 25-15 win in set one. Sioux Valley then trailed big early in set two but came back to tie things up at 14-14. The Cossacks would fall behind once again but came back to take a 23-22 lead. They then won the set 26-24 to tie things up at one set apiece.
Vincent said her team played with a lot more rhythm in the second set and was passing a lot better.
I think [in set two] we just believed in each other and we had some passes get on point and then our setters could hit the ball. When we dont hit the ball its tough because we end up playing defense a majority of the time, so we have to get some kills on the other end of things too, Vincent said.
Things were even in the third set through the first 28 points as it was 14-14. Unfortunately for the Cossacks the Chargers then scored 11 of the next 12 points and won the set 25-14 and took a 2-1 lead.
That momentum carried into the fourth set for the Chargers as Sioux Valley trailed 12-4. The Cossacks then went on a 6-1 run to close the gap to 13-10. Eventually they would tie things up at 21-21. Hamlin then scored three-straight points to force a match point, but the Cossacks didnt give up as they answered with two points in-a-row. However, Hamlin won the next point and took the set 25-23 and won the match.
Vincent said she thought her team ran out of gas at the end of the fourth set.
We just spent a lot of energy before [the fourth set] and I think mentally we were alway second guessing, thinking, ‘Is this going to work? Is this going to work?’ Rather than just going full speed ahead. So, we have to play with more confidence tomorrow, Vincent said.
Sioux Valley had 43 kills and 64 digs as a team. Kaedyn Sapp led the way with 18 kills and 10 digs. Adison Renkly had 13 kills and Caitlin Russell had 16 digs. Machaela Gerasch had 19 assists and 12 digs.
Sunny Hesby had 17 assists and eight digs. Talya Vincent had seven digs. Keyra Kruse had five kills and Emma Gorvin and Lacey Langland each had three kills.
Hamlin was led by Addie Steffensen who had 20 kills and 15 digs. Adison Neuendorf had 19 kills and 16 digs. Issie Steffensen had 48 assists and 10 digs. Jo Steffesnen had eight kills and 14 digs. Jayci Trowbridge had 14 digs.
Hamlin will take on No. 3 seeded Dell Rapids in the semifinals at 6:45 p.m. Friday. The Cossacks will play No. 6 Winner at 12:45 p.m. in the consolation semifinals. Vincent said her team needs to shift its focus to the final two matches of the tournament and put this one in the past.
Well talk about [this match], but then we do have to move on because we want to win two out of three now. You have to readjust your goals and do all of those things. I think tomorrow will be a different day, Vincent said.
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