Bertrand hosted Southwest tonight for the season opener. The Vikings had a solid first set before the Roughriders found another gear and pulled away from Bertrand to get the 3-0 sweep on the road.
In the first set, Bertrand jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then Southwest was able to get things moving and went on a run of their own to take 5-3 lead. After trading some service and hitting errors, the Vikings managed to be the first to fifteen with the score reading 15-10. However, Southwest took the lead at 19-18 went on a run to force Bertrand to use a timeout at 21-18. Allison VanPelt aced a serve to send the Roughriders to set point, 24-21 and they went on to take the set 25-21.
In set two it was the Roughriders who jumped out to the 3-0 lead early. After some back and forth, Bertrand was able to string a couple of points together to trail 5-3. After another small run from the Roughriders, Brookly Evans of Bertrand served tough to bring them within one, 9-8. Coming off that run from Bertrand, Southwest was able to extend their lead with Atleigh Nelms tough serving as she served them to 18-8. Bertrand called a timeout at 21-10 but Southwest was too much in set two as they fell 25-17 and trailed the match 2-0.
In the third set, it was a lot of back and forth but Southwest jumped out to the lead early as they led 12-6. The Vikings started to creep back into the game making the score 12-10 but the Roughriders pulled away and were able to close the set and match out with a 25-17 final set score.
We caught up with Payton Truksa after the match.
Unofficially for Southwest, Aspen Billeter had 29 assists, Kyra Nelms had 11 kills and 3 blocks, Payton Truksa had 7 kills, 4 digs, and 3 ace serves, and Anikka Nelms had 7 kills.
Unofficially for Bertrand, Booklyn Evans had 8 kills and an ace and Katelyn Evans had 8 kills.
Southwest is back in action on Saturday as they will play in the Cambridge tournament and Bertrand will host Elm Creek on Tuesday.
Check out our highlights from the match brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company.
