Hitchcock County hosted a triangular with Southwest and Cambridge on Tuesday night to wrap up their regular seasons before the RPAC Tournament that will begin on Thursday. With only one sweep on the night, it was a great night for volleyball.
Southwest swept Hitchcock County, 2-0, Southwest defeated Cambridge, 2-1, and Cambridge defeated Hitchcock County, 2-1.
In match one, Hitchcock County faced unbeaten Southwest. In set one it was back and forth early as both teams took a bit to settle into the flow of the set. Southwest led from the start, 4-3, and slowly extended their lead throughout the set as the score read 6-3 and eventually got to 12-5 in favor of the Roughriders. The Falcons weren't going to go away that easily though. They climbed back into the match at 16-12 but Southwest went on another run to force a Hitchcock County timeout at 19-13. The Roughriders kept on the gas out of the timeout to force the Falcons to use their final timeout at 23-13. Southwest went on to win set one, 25-13.
In set two, it was a similar story as Southwest jumped out early, 2-0, but Hitchcock County took a 6-5 lead and they went back and forth until Southwest regained the lead at 9-8. The Roughriders hit the gas and created separation at 14-9 and went on to win set two, 25-14, and the match, 2-0.
For Hitchcock County, Madysen Carlson had five kills, Kaiah Johnson had four kills, Raegan Hagan had 13 digs, and Jill McArthur had eight assists.
For Southwest, Anikka Nelms had seven kills, Kyra Nelms had six kills, Atleigh Nelms had six kills, Allison VanPelt had 11 digs, and Aspen Billeter had 17 assists.
Cambridge and Southwest then took the court for the night's second match.
In set one, the two squads started 3-2 in favor of Southwest but the Roughriders forced an early timeout from the Trojans as they took the 9-3 lead. At this point in the match, Southwest had accumulated four aces. Southwest extended their lead to 15-9 and eventually 22-11 before Cambridge used their final timeout. The Roughriders went on to win set one, 25-14.
In set two, Southwest took the 4-2 lead and went back and forth until Cambridge took their first lead of the match at 10-9. Cambridge was the first to 15 in this set and went on a run to claim all of the momentum with the score reading 18-14. This forced a timeout from Southwest and the Roughriders closed the gap, 18-17, which forced a Trojan timeout. Cambridge responded well out of the timeout creating a lead at 21-17. Cambridge went on to win the set, 26-17, and evened the match at 1-1.
In the third and final set, Southwest jumped out to the 5-0 lead and held on to that lead for the majority of the set. Cambridge was able to close in a little at 8-4 and eventually 12-7 but was ultimately able to tie the set at 12-12. It was tight for most of the middle portion of this set until the Roughriders had the 19-14 lead and forced Cambridge to use a timeout. Southwest went on to take set three, 25-19, and the match, 2-1.
For Southwest, Kyra Nelms had 22 digs and four aces, Anikka Nelms had seven kills, Atleigh Nelms had five kills, 11 digs, and three aces, Payton Truksa had four kills and six digs, Allison VanPelt had 12 digs, and Aspen Billeter had 31 assists.
Unofficially for Cambridge, they had five aces and three blocks in the match. Brooklyn Holtze had seven kills, Joslyn Holtze had four kills, and Erin Johnson had four kills.
In the final match of the night, Cambridge and Hitchcock County battled.
Cambridge jumped out early in set one, 4-1, and was able to create quite a gap at 14-8. The Trojans forced a timeout from Hitchcock County at 15-8 and eventually forced them to use their final timeout at 20-9. Cambridge went on to win set one, 25-18.
In set two, the Trojans had the 3-2 lead early but Hitchcock County hung around and eventually took the lead at 7-6. This forced a timeout from Cambridge when they trailed 9-6. Cambridge responded well and took the lead at 18-17 where the Falcons used a timeout. It was knotted up for a while but Cambridge led at 22-20 and went on to fall in the set, 26-24, and the match was tied at 1-1.
In the third and final set, Cambridge led 6-1 and forced Hitchcock County to use a timeout early at 15-8. Cambridge went on a run out of this timeout forcing the Falcons to use their final timeout when they trailed 20-9. The Trojans went on to win set three 25-9 and the match, 2-1.
Unofficially for Cambridge, they had five aces and four blocks in the match. Erin Johnson had 15 kills, Brooklyn Holtze had eight kills, Joslyn Holtze had five kills, and Elisabeth Kubik had four kills.
For Hitchcock County, Riley Hagan had nine kills and 12 digs, Madysen Carlson had seven kills, Kaiah Johnson had six kills and 16 digs, Asia Homma had six kills and 15 digs, Raegan Hagan had 12 digs and 10 assists, and Jill McArthur had 12 assists.
Check out our highlights from the triangular which are brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company.
Southwest remains unbeaten and has improved their record to 26-0. The Roughriders are the #1 seed in the East and will face #8 Medicine Valley at home at 3:30 P.M. CT.
Cambridge is now 17-8 and earned the #2 seed in the East and hosting rights. They will play #7 Hi-Line at 5:00 P.M. CT at home.
Hitchcock County is now 13-15 and earned the #6 seed in the West and will face #3 Maxwell at 5:00 P.M. CT in Maywood.
