2 weeks Ago By Mitchell Republic
YANKTON — For the second time in as many away matches, the Mitchell High School volleyball team’s bid for an Eastern South Dakota Conference road victory came up short in five sets. Though the Kernels won the first and third sets, Yankton came storming back on its home court to close out the match. Set scores were 23-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-12 and 15-11.
Apart from a 1-all tie, Yankton led the entire way during the deciding fifth set. Though the Kernels twice battled back to within three points late, the Gazelles built an advantage as large as 12-5 to hold off the Mitchell rally. ADVERTISEMENT “They were pretty scrappy defensively, but for the most part, I thought it was our side of the net that we weren’t being very efficient with the ball,” said MHS coach Deb Thill of Yankton's late surge.
The Kernels opened up a seven-point cushion late in the first set to take the early edge. Later, after Yankton evened the set count at one apiece, Mitchell dominated much of the third set to go in front again. “I thought we played well.
We passed well and ran a good offense, and we were serving aggressively,” Thill said. “Then we started making some errors that accumulated on us and they took advantage.” Yankton answered with an equally commanding fourth set, seizing the momentum it used to take the final frame.
With the win, Yankton (2-10, 1-3 ESD) grabbed its first win over a Class AA opponent this season. The Gazelles had previously defeated South Sioux City (Neb.) in a tournament last month.
For the Kernels, Addie Siemsen recorded 12 kills, 14 assists, three service aces and nine digs, while Kenna Soulek posted four aces, 18 assists and 14 digs. Kambyl Wede and Kenzie Hetland both notched six kills, with Audrey Miller and Lauren Van Overschelde each adding four kills. Ava Brannan had 12 digs.
Mitchell (1-8, 0-3 ESD) is on the road again for its next match against another ESD foe, Brookings, on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Starting Thursday, Sept.
26, the Kernels begin a five-match homestand with a match against Watertown. “We’re still trying to figure out our best chemistry on the floor and playing the right positions,” Thill said of the team's focus moving forward. “We’ve just got to play our game and get a little more efficient at it without making as many errors.
That’s just the game of volleyball.” ADVERTISEMENT Subvarsity scores Junior varsity: Mitchell 2, Yankton 1. Londyn Hajek had four aces, 11 digs and 11 assists, and Ivory Fenski had six kills and three blocks.
Sophomore: Yankton 2, Mitchell 0. Freshman A: Mitchell 2, Yankton 1. Freshman B: Yankton 2, Mitchell 0.
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