The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Kaydence VanRay (left) and Madison Johnson (right) team up on this block attempt off the swing from E-K-M's Libby Mathern.
The Cards' Mercedes Lura puts a serve into play during the match against the E-K-M Rebels.
The question for Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier's girls volleyball program was never the athletic talent, or the desire.
It was getting past the "Big Three" in District 5 competition, which for the past few years, has been some combination of LaMoure/Litchville-Marion, Oakes, or Carrington.
The Rebels completed one part of that progression Thursday night, September 8, taking a surprising 3-0 sweep over Carrington in the district opener by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 27-25 in the East Gym to improve to 4-0 on the young season.
Rebel Coach Darci Moch returns a lineup that is one of the more experienced ones in District 5, featuring five players that are at least two-year starters, another solid contributor in Libby Mathern and a sophomore phenom, Elli Lloyd.
"They really have great chemistry," Moch said, and added, "We've come close to beating all three of those teams above us in the past, but could never quite get over the hump."
The Rebels' coach has compiled a list of teams that her squad has not beaten in her nine years leading the program, for an additional motivational tool, and added that they hope to "check them all off this year."
Even in the loss, CHS played well at times, but they couldn't close out the latter portion of their sets.
"A few points here or there, and it might have been a sweep the other way," CHS Coach Megan Trautman said.
Carrington got 11 kills from senior outside hitter Madison Johnson, while junior Edyn Hoornaert finished with six. Setting duo Isabel Wendel and Kacie Rexin put up 12 and 10 assists.
On the block, Kaydence VanRay had another night of leadership in that statistic with three. In the back, libero Kenadie Pazdernik had an action-packed night over just three sets, racking up 41 digs.
The Rebels' attacking corps of two of the three Matherns (Mataeya and Libby) confounded the Cardinal defense with 12 and 10 kills, and Lloyd showed her maturity on the court with 10 shots of her own.
Lloyd even had her jump serve going, sharing co-leadership with setter Abby Mathern (32 assists) with two aces.
Tiahna Wald led E-K-M (4-0 overall, 1-0 District 5) with 34 digs, and Lloyd contributed 22 more.
CHS had an opportunity to get back in the win column last Tuesday evening when they boarded the bus to face Region 2 opponent Park River Area.
In spite of struggles at times, the Cards took a four-set win (25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 25-18), and are now 3-1 on the season.
Wendel had the hot hand versus the Aggies, finishing with 18 kills, and Johnson was close behind with 14 for the Cards. Rexin led Carrington both in assists (25) and service aces (three), and Mercedes Lura took charge at the net with three blocks. Hoornaert, along with VanRay, each had two. Pazdernik contributed 34 digs.
The Cards have just one regular match on their schedule next week, but it's a big one. On Tuesday, district co-leader LaMoure/Litchville-Marion (11-4 overall) will entertain Carrington in LaMoure for a District 5 A-B-C matchup beginning at 4:30 p.m.
District 5 Volleyball
Edgeley-Kulm/Montpelier 3,
Carrington 0
at Carrington
E-K-M 25 25 27 - 3
Cgtn. 21 19 25 - 0
Carrington Individual Stats
Kills: Madison Johnson 11, Edyn Hoornaert 6, Kaydence VanRay 4, Isabel Wendel 3, Mercedes Lura 2, Kacie Rexin 1.
Aces: Lura 1.
Assists: Wendel 12, Rexin 10.
Blocks: VanRay 3, Wendel 2, Hoornaert, Johnson and Lura 1.
Digs: Kenadie Pazdernik 41, Johnson 30, Rexin and Wendel 24, Hoornaert 19, Lura 8, VanRay 7.
E-K-M Individual Stats
Kills: Mataeya Mathern 12, Elli Lloyd and Libby Mathern 10, Anicka Boruvka 5, Grace Irey 4, Tiahna Wald 1.
Aces: Lloyd and Abby Mathern 2, Boruvka and M. Mathern 1.
Assists: A. Mathern 32, L. Mathern 2, Wald 1.
Blocks: Wald 3, L. Mathern 1.
Digs: Wald 34, Lloyd 22, A. Mathern and M. Mathern 13, Boruvka 10, L. Mathern 8, Irey 2.
Nonregion Volleyball
Carrington 3, Park River Area 1
at Park River
Cgtn. 25 25 18 25 - 3
PRA 21 23 25 18 - 1
Carrington Individual Stats
Kills: Wendel 18, Johnson 14, VanRay 7, Hoornaert and Rexin 6, Lura 4.
Aces: Rexin 3, Lura, Pazdernik and Wendel 1.
Assists: Rexin 25, Wendel 17, Hoornaert and Johnson 1.
Blocks: Lura 3, Hoornaert and VanRay 2, Rexin 1.
Digs: Pazdernik 34, Wendel 24, Johnson 23, Rexin 20, Hoornaert 19, Lura 6, VanRay 4, Sydney Friedt 1.
