The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Kaydence VanRay, left, and Madison Johnson, right, rise up for a block on the hit attempt from Oakes' Lily Thorpe. Johnson, a senior, finished her net tenure with a 13-kill, 39-dig performance in the four-set loss to the Tornadoes.
Cardinal senior Sydney Friedt goes to a knee to make this pass, as Kenadie Pazdernik watches from the libero position.
It would have been completely on-brand for the Carrington Cardinals and Oakes Tornadoes to play their typical match for a plaque that, on the surface, might not mean much in the grand scheme.
This one didn't go five sets, like their past games are wont to do, but the two programs saved all their drama for the end point of the first two sets.
Both of those extra-point affairs went to Oakes, 29-27 and 27-25, and Carrington briefly extended their hopes of a comeback with a 25-18 third set win before ultimately falling to the Tornadoes, 25-21, for a 3-1 defeat in the third place match Thursday, November 9, at the Region 3 Volleyball Tournament in Ellendale.
Carrington's season finished with a record of 24-12 and another top-4 finish in the region, while Oakes ended up at 20-11. The Tornadoes' victory ensured that six different teams in Region 3 finished with at least 20 victories.
Junior Isabel Wendel had 17 kills, and was second to Kacie Rexin's 22 assists with 20 of her own. Wendel also contributed 18 digs, and added two blocks and an ace (along with Edyn Hoornaert).
Madison Johnson, a senior, put a bow on her net career with 13 kills and 39 digs. Junior libero Kenadie Pazdernik led the Cards with 40 digs, and Rexin had the top service game with three aces.
Johnson, along with Rexin and Sydney Friedt (nine digs), all suited up for CHS volleyball for the final time.
Carrington has a good shot to be a player once again in the District 5 and Region 3 conversation next season, in what will be their final year in Class B before the start of the three-division plan to begin in the 2025-26 school term.
In the championship match, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier was poised to make their first State Volleyball Tournament appearance in 17 years, but the LaMoure/Litchville-Marion Loboes crashed the Rebels' party with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21) victory to make the field in their own right for the first time since 2017.
The loss ended E-K-M's season at 30-5 overall, while L-L-M (26-11) got the number five seed and took on defending state champion Northern Cass in the first round of the State B last Thursday.
Region 3 Volleyball
Tournament, Ellendale
Third Place
Oakes 3, Carrington 1
Oakes 29 27 18 25 - 3
Cgtn. 27 25 25 21 - 1
Carrington Individual Stats
Kills: Isabel Wendel 17, Madison Johnson 13, Harper Kollman 6, Edyn Hoornaert 5, Kacie Rexin and Kaydence VanRay 3, Mercedes Lura 2, Brynn Smith 1.
Aces: Rexin 3, Hoornaert and Wendel 1.
Assists: Rexin 22, Wendel 20, VanRay 1.
Blocks: Hoornaert and Wendel 2.
Digs: Kenadie Pazdernik 40, Johnson 39, Wendel 18, Rexin 14, Kollman 12, Sydney Friedt and Hoornaert 9, Lura 6, Smith 2.
