A few points here and there separated the Griggs/Midkota Titans from what would have been their signature victory of the season on the volleyball court.
In New Rockford Monday night, October 23, the Titans shocked defending Region 4 champion NR-S in the second and third sets, taking 25-23 wins in both following a 25-16 opening set loss, before the Rockets got their bearings and took the final two sets, 25-19 and 15-12, to escape with a win in the regular season finale for G-M.
Kelsey Johnson and Vanessa Vollmer each had 10 kills for the Titans, and Emma McCullough 32 assists.
Griggs/Midkota hopes that the near-miss against quality competition bodes well for their confidence in the District 5 Tournament, which was originally scheduled to start last Thursday evening in Oakes depending on how the threat of the first major regional snowstorm of the season played out.
The Titans, seeded fifth, took on fourth seed Carrington in the first round of play.
The winner would take on top-seeded Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier in the second day of tournament action, while the loser got a bye through the elimination round to the Region 3 qualifier slated for today (October 30) on the original schedule.
Nonregion Volleyball
NR-S 3, Griggs/Midkota 2
at New Rockford
G-M 16 25 25 19 12 - 2
NR-S 25 23 23 25 15 - 3
G-M Statistical Leaders
Kills: Kelsey Johnson and Vanessa Vollmer 10, Kennedy Reidman 9.
Aces: Reidman 3.
Assists: Emma McCullough 32.
Blocks: Clayre Hilbert 2.
Digs: Ryan Johnson 25, K. Johnson 22, Vollmer 18.