BROOKINGS -- Weekend matches continued to be just fine for the Mitchell High School volleyball team on Saturday.
Despite having to fight and claw their way to a victory in the opening set, the Kernels cracked open the second and third sets and picked up an Eastern South Dakota Conference sweep at Brookings in a matinee match. Set scores were 28-26, 25-19 and 25-13, and the win was Mitchell’s seventh on a Saturday this season.
The Bobcats took advantage of defensive errors and serve-receive issues from Mitchell early, giving the two-win Brookings squad energy in the in the opening set, which was tied 16 times. The two teams were even at 23-23 when Brookings scored a kill from Grace Eggebrecht to create a set-point chance. But the Kernels started feeding standout outside hitter Mackenzie Miller late in the set, scoring three kills and an ace that clipped the net to put Mitchell up 27-26 and a Brookings attack landed in the net for Mitchell’s set victory.
“We did not serve-receive as well as we did Thursday night (against Watertown),” Mitchell coach Deb Thill said. “And when we do that, we can run a much better offense and really get everything going. I thought our kids did a great job of responding when Brookings had a chance to win.”
After a fast start helped Mitchell win the second set, Mitchell trailed 9-7 in the third set before putting together its biggest run of the season. Mandy Schmidt had four aces in a 9-0 run and then after a serve into the net, Brooke Flemmer served for seven straight points, capping a 16-1 run to put Mitchell up 22-10 and the clinching point soon came on a Miller kill.
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Miller had 12 kills to lead Mitchell, while Brewster and Carly Haring each had eight kills. Schmidt had 29 set assists without an error and four aces. Brewster had three aces, as Mitchell put down 10 aces as a team. Haring finished with three blocks. Brewster and Bridget Thill each had 12 digs, while Schmidt had 11 digs and Payton Morgan and Miller each added nine digs.
“They’re very good on the floor to each other and the way they communicate with each other is good,” Deb Thill said of her team. “That makes a difference in finding a way to win.”
Brookings’ Kylie Tucker had five blocks and Eggebrecht had three blocks. Annika Johnson had 10 kills, with Kailee Bartels scoring seven kills. Johnson and Emma Hardin each had three aces for Brookings (2-11), which hosts Yankton on Tuesday.
The Kernels (15-1, 10-1 ESD) will play at Rapid City Central and Rapid City Stevens Friday and Saturday, respectively, on a West River trip next weekend.
Subvarsity:
JV: Brookings won 25-20 and 25-23. Cassie Hohrman had seven kills for the Kernels and Lesley VanDrongelen had 14 digs.
Sophomores: Brookings won 25-20 and 25-15. Regan Waddell had six kills.
Freshman A: Brookings won 25-17 and 25-14.
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Freshman B: Brookings won 25-16, 20-25 and 16-14.
