Mitchell falls to Rapid City Central

Rapid City Central knocked off No. 5-ranked Mitchell 3-1 in a high school volleyball match Friday at the Mitchell High School gymnasium.

“We’ve been waiting a long time to beat them,” said RCC head coach Shelly Wolfe, whose team won 25-20, 29-27, 18-25, 25-14. “They’ve knocked us out in regionals two years in a row, and the kids had some pretty intense emotions from last year when they walked into the locker room. It was a big motivator.”

RCC’s Tessa Gorsuch led the Cobblers with 15 kills and 14 digs in the win, while Lauren Schad recorded nine blocks and five kills.

Mitchell (10-6) had 25 hitting errors in the match and head coach Deb Thill said the team was sluggish all night.

“We were slow on our blocking assignments and defensively and always a step behind,” Thill said. “Our kids have to learn that everyone wants to beat us, and they’ve got to be able to step up and make their plays and we didn’t do that.”

After taking the first set, the Cobblers got out to a 17-8 lead in the second. RCC (10-9) remained in control of the set until Mitchell won seven consecutive points on to go ahead 24-23, giving it a chance to level the match.

On the next point, the Kernels made an error on a kill, letting the Cobblers back into the set at 24-all. RCC finally converted on its fourth chance to finish the set, going ahead 2-0 in the match.

Mitchell came out strong in the third earning a five-point lead at 12-7. The Kernels went on to win the set 25-18, forcing another set.

Thill said Jenna Neugebauer, who recorded three aces on the night, often gives the Kernels control of the point when she is serving.

“She’s got a very tough, float jump serve,” Thill said. “That’s primarily her job for us to get us on runs with that great serve that she’s got.”

RCC ran away with the match as it went ahead 9-1 early in the fourth set. The Kernels were able to cut the deficit within three points, but it wasn’t enough.

Taylin Alm led with a team-high 15 kills, Sidney Neugebauer had nine kills, nine digs and three aces and Kendra Morgan added 38 set assists in the loss. Kerri Young tallied 10 kills and Emma Schmidt had eight digs and seven kills for MHS.

Jenna Neugebauer said the Kernels are going to have to come ready to play in today’s match.

“Everyone is going to have to step it up and be more aggressive because that definitely helps us out,” she said.

Mitchell plays Rapid City Stevens at 2:30 p.m. today at MHS.

Sophomores: RCC, 25-21, 25-21.

Freshmen A: Mitchell, 30-29, 16-25, 25-21. Ally Goldammer had five kills, five digs, three aces and one block. Laura Freeman had eight kills, three aces and one block.

Freshmen B: RCC, 25-18, 25-21.

Tags: sports, updates, kernels, volleyball