Tanager volleyball team goes 1 – 3 at Luverne Invite

The Vermillion volleyball team faced four Minnesota schools Saturday, Sept. 9, when they entered in the Luverne, MN invitational. They came away "battered but unbowed" as they scraped out a 1-3 tournament record. This will be a review of all four matches with significant statistics in each. To begin with, each match consisted of two games. If the teams split, total points determined the winner.

An abbreviation key follows: A = ace, K = kill, B = block, D = dig, SA = set assist

In the first match against Edgerton, the Tanagers lost two, 9-25, 18-25. Individual stats include: Alicia Brown – 4 K; Krista Froke – 2 A, 2 B; DeNell Dykstra – 4 K; Kristina Blythe – 4 D; and Kinsey Weydert, 8 SA.

The second match, against Luverne, was a two game win, 25-10, 26-24. Stats for the Tanagers were: Weydert – 10 SA; Froke – 6 K; Brown – 4 A, 4 D; Kayla Gale – 5 K; Ariel Hofman – 5 D.

Match three pitted the Tanagers against the Russel-Tyler-Ruthton team. "This team defended everything we threw at them and came on to tie us 17-25, 25-11," said coach Billberg. Stats for the match were: Rachel Odens – 2 B; Froke – 5 K, 3 B, 2 A; Hofman – 5 D; Brown �, 3 K, 2 A; Gale – 3 K; Blythe – 5 D; and Weydert – 5 SA.

The fourth match was against the ladies from Murray County Central, a Minnesota power. Coach Billberg evaluated play, "This team served us tough and defended every return ball. Our blocking was adequate, however, our passing came back to haunt us, taking away any chance for a win." Score was 17-25, 20-25.

Tanager stats were: Odens – 2 D; Weydert – 3 A, 6 SA; Stacey Joy – 5 D; Hofman – 4 D; Froke – 2 B, 4 K. Further remarks from coach Billberg were, "1-3 on the day, but we learned a lot about ourselves. Defense will continue to be our key for winning."

A JV volleyball tournament was held in conjunction with the varsity tourney.

Vermillion faced R-T-R in the first match with scores 25-18, 21-25 winning on points. Individual stats: Sara Kjose – 1 A, 6 SA; Stacey Bottolfson – 1 A; Justine Sorenson – 2 K, 2 B; Alexa Walker – 3 K; and Hannah Korcuska – 9 D.

Match two was against Edgerton with a 14-25, 21-25 Tanager loss. Stats included: Korcuska – 2 A, 7 D; Jenny Bye – 2 K; Angie Christensen – 2 B; and Kjose – 5 SA.

Luverne was match three foe. 18-25, 20-25 was the closing result. Tanager stats were: Sorenson – 4 A, 2 K, 2 B; Bye – 2 A; Walker – 3 K; Korcuska – 9 D; and Kjose – 2 B, 5 SA.

Murray County Central defeated Vermillion JV 17-25, 20-25, in match four. Stats were: Weydert – 3 A, 6 SA; Froke – 4 K, 2 B; Odens – 2 B; Joy – 5 D; and Hofman – 4 D.

Coach Lori Jerred had these comment, "We played excellent volleyball, winning the RTR match. We lost to some great competition. The girls are really playing well. Walker and Sorenson led the team in kills. Freshmen Sierra Allen and Jenny Bye played great and Korcuska led a great defensive effort."