Huron edges Kernels 3-2

Despite getting a school-record 38 digs from senior Megan Farnham and leading two sets to none, the Kernels lost 3-2 to Huron in a high school volleyball gaSaturday evening at the Corn Palace Classic.

It was the second straight five-set match Mitchell played. The Kernels, who lost to the Tigers by set scores of 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-8, defeated Brandon Valley Thursday in five sets.

For Kernel coach Deb Thill, it was easy to point to why things started going Huron’s way in the Eastern South Dakota Conference matchup.

“We had two miscommunication errors that cost us points and let them go on runs,” Thill said. “Obviously no matter how skilled you are, if you’re going to let other teams back in it by not talking on the floor and letting balls hit the floor that never should never hit the floor, you’re going to let them back in it. They successfully won that (fourth) set and gave them momentum going into the fifth set.”

The Kernels held the Tigers at bay over the first two sets, holding small leads but never letting Huron go on runs and take the lead.

In the third set, it was Huron maintaining a lead and holding the Kernels off.

Mitchell controlled the fourth set and led 23-18 when the Tigers went on a momentum-changing run with seven straight service points to win the set. The Tigers used that momentum to jump to a 10-4 advantage early in the fifth set and Mitchell never recovered.

“Physical-skill wise, we’re pretty good and we had some great efforts on the floor,” said Thill about taking something positive after the loss. “But you just can’t make the mental mistakes, and that was the mistake we were making. But we’re still working on a lot of different aspects of the game, and we’ll continue to get better.”

Farnham’s record of 38 digs was one of many high stats on the night for the Kernels. She broke the school record for most digs in a match, previously held by Melissa Dorale in 2002 and Taylor Piper in 2008. Dorale and Piper each had 35 digs in a match.

Kerri Young and Taylin Alm led Mitchell’s offense versus Huron. Young had 14 kills and three blocks and Alm had 14 kills, four aces and three blocks. Jenna Neugebauer contributed 23 digs and eight kills and Emma Schmidt had eight kills and 18 digs. Sidney Neugebauer added eight kills and 13 digs and Kendra Morgan had 43 assists, 20 digs and four blocks.

Mitchell (4-2) hits the road for its next match as the Kernels travel to Pierre Thursday to take on the Governors.

JV: Huron 2-1; 25-13, 16-25, 25-12: Taylor Sebert had six aces and Trisha Flemmer had 18 digs.

Sophomores: Huron 2-0; 25-20, 25-18: Haley Jonnassen finished with four kills.

Freshmen: Huron 2-0; 25-9, 25-21: No stats reported.

Tags: sports, updates, volleyball, kernels