Homecoming sweep: 'Cats topple Tigers

Posted

BROOKINGS – The Bobcat volleyball team celebrated Homecoming on Tuesday night at the BHS Auxiliary Gymnasium by sweeping Eastern South Dakota Conference opponent Harrisburg 25-18, 25-18 and 25-20.

“Our seniors really took care of business on their final Homecoming,” said BHS coach Jodi Melius. “Michaela Jewett played an outstanding match – she served well, she set well, she attacked well. Kylie Tucker and Kailee Bartels were our two leaders in kill efficiency. Our back row seniors – Alli Gordon, Ashlyn Borah and Miranda Ysbrand – all played a great match.

“So I’m just really proud of our seniors in their final Homecoming.”

Brookings has had some trouble finishing off opponents this season, but that wasn’t the case against the Tigers.

“It was a really, really big deal for this group of girls to be able to win in three sets,” added Melius. “After going up two on Roosevelt (last Tuesday) and then letting them come from behind, it showed a lot of mental toughness on their part to buckle down in that third set and keep our focus.”

Harrisburg scored five of the first six points to open the match, but Brookings answered with four in a row to pull even. Tied at 11-11, the Bobcats scored three consecutive points to begin to pull away.

The Tigers opened Set 2 with a 7-2 spurt. However, the Bobcats later manufactured a 6-0 run to move ahead 14-11 and again gradually pulled away to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Brookings came out with four points in a row to begin the third, before Harrisburg rebounded. Later, a 4-0 spurt put the Bobcats on top 16-13 and in the lead for good.

“I hope it gives us some confidence, that we’re able to finish those three-set matches and just to play a complete match from start to finish,” added Melius.

Jewett totaled 32 set assists, seven kills, three service aces, one block assist and 10 digs.

Tucker blasted a match-high 14 kills, including the match-winner, to go with one block. She hit a sizzling .565 with 23 attempts (one error).

Bartels added six kills and a block. Johanna Miller had five kills, and Regan Weisbeck and Clarissa Miller contributed three apiece.

Ysbrand notched 16 digs, Borah eight and Gordon six.

For Harrisburg, Lucy Hartman tallied eight kills and Avery Kirkey added six. Kellsie Hoffmann and Hallie Mertz both came up with a pair of blocks, and Brooklyn Bollweg netted a trio of aces.

Bollweg tallied 24 digs. Abby Carolan (12) and Julia Sanderson (11) combined for 23 set assists.

Brookings (3-8) hits the road to face Marshall, Minn., on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. Harrisburg (3-6) plays host to Sioux Falls Washington that night.

Junior varsity: Harrisburg 23-25, 25-23, 15-9

Sophomore: Harrisburg 26-24, 25-20

Freshman A: Harrisburg 26-24, 25-16

Freshman B: Harrisburg 14-25, 25-19, 15-12

Register photo: Brookings’ Kylie Tucker gets one of her match-high 14 kills past the block attempt of Harrisburg’s Kellsie Hoffmann (8) and Lucy Hartman (7) during the first set of the Bobcats’ 3-0 Homecoming win over the Tigers on Tuesday night at the BHS Auxiliary Gymnasium. Covering on the play are Alli Gordon (4) and Miranda Ysbrand.