Hornets defeat Wildcats; 3rd in bronze at Washburn

The HWC volleyball team saw extensive action the week covering October 1-4, playing five games at the Washburn Tournament and then traveling to Maddock to take on Region 4 opponent Benson County.

The Hornets played five games in Washburn on Saturday, October 1, splitting 1-1 with Garrison, Divide County and Grant County in pool play. The teams were all seeded according to records in pool play and the amount of points scored, which resulted in HWC going to the Bronze Tournament bracket. In that bracket, the Hornets were defeated by South Prairie, 25-17 and 25-12, before earning third place in the bracket with a three-game victory over Wilton-Wing.

On Tuesday, October 4, HWC traveled to Maddock to take on the Wildcats of Benson County in an important Super Region 4 matchup. The Hornets and Bobcats played the first two games closely, with HWC pulling away at the end of each. The deciding game was all HWC, as the Hornets claimed the match in three straight games.

The Wildcats opened up game one with a quick 5-2 lead with the help of an ace from Taryn Johnson-Olson. HWC got kills from Emma Dockter and Ashley Keller to take a 7-5 lead. The Hornets held a slim 1-3 point lead for most of the game, but opened up the lead late on a couple of serving errors by Benson County and won game one, 25-19.

The Hornets fell behind early in game two also, as they trailed, 7-3, early. A host of serving errors and net violations by both teams led into a strong HWC rally seeing kills from Rachel Neumiller and Keller along with an ace from Dockter, as HWC grabbed a 13-9 lead. Aces by Kali Fike and Larissa Arnold kept Benson County at bay as they maintained a four point lead at 19-15. Aubree Wolfe's kill helped propel the Hornets to a 6-1 finish, as the visitors won game two, 25-17.

The final game was easily decided by HWC. The Hornets, behind the strong serving of Arnold, got out to a quick 13-2 lead. A mini-run from the Wildcats, highlighted by a kill from Olivia Follman, tallied three straight points and cut the lead to eight. Wolfe used a nice string of strong serves to help HWC extend the lead to 19-5, and Rachel Neumiller ended game three with a kill as the Hornets cruised to a 25-10 win and three game sweep.

Fike dished out 25 assists and five aces, and Dockter smashed down 11 kills and 14 digs to help pace the Hornets.

Super Region 4 Volleyball

HWC 3, Benson Co. 0

at Maddock

HWC 25 25 25 - 3

BC 19 17 10 - 0

HWC Individual Statistics

Kills: Emma Dockter 11, Ashley Keller 6, Rachel Neumiller 5, Larissa Arnold and Taylor Nelson 4, Aubree Wolfe 3.

Aces: Kali Fike 5, Dockter 3, Arnold 2, Neumiller and Wolfe 1.

Assists: Fike 25, Dockter, Keller, Nelson and Wolfe 1.

Blocks: Keller and Wolfe 1.

Digs: Dockter 14, Arnold 12, Neumiller 9, Fike 6, Wolfe 4, Keller 2, Delaney Erfle and Nelson 1.

Washburn Tournament

Saturday, October 1

Pool Play

Garrison 1, HWC 1

(Garrison wins on points)

HWC 19 25 - 1

Garrison 25 22 - 1

Grant Co. 1, HWC 1

(Grant Co. wins on points)

HWC 25 15 - 1

GC 17 25 - 1

HWC 1, Divide Co. 1

(HWC wins on points)

HWC 20 25 - 1

DC 25 19 - 1

Tournament Play

First Round - Bronze Bracket

South Prairie 2, HWC 0

HWC 17 12 - 0

SP 25 25 - 2

Bronze - Third Place

HWC 2, Wilton-Wing 1

HWC 17 25 15 - 2

W-W 25 14 10 - 1

HWC Cumulative Stats

Kills: Dockter 36, Arnold 18, Nelson 13, Neumiller 8, Keller 7, Wolfe 6, Fike 5.

Aces: Arnold 9, Dockter and Wolfe 7, Erfle 5, Fike 3, Bartz and Neumiller 2.

Assists: Fike 60, Bartz 8, Neumiller 4, Nelson 2.

Blocks: Arnold 2.

Digs: Dockter 56, Arnold 26, Fike 22, Neumiller 21, Erfle 18, Wolfe 16, Keller 8, Nelson 5, Bartz 3.