Friday, March 29, 2024

Minneota dominates KM in volleyball

KoMets home game against Minneota started out pretty repetitive. KM’s Maddy Cummings got the first point of the match and Maddie Converse fed off of that energy with getting her eleventh Ace of the season.

The score started its recurring ties at 2-2. Cummings gets another one down adding to the KoMets score; she then blasts another kill, her 51st kill of the season, and she ties it at 5-5. Cummings was incredible in the first set, she was able to get another point for KM, and they were tied once more 6-6.

Minneota got through KM’s block and down onto the court granting them the lead, until they tied at 7-7, then 8-8, and KoMet Mya Suess tied it at 9-9. Minneota then found themselves in a much more comfortable position being up 12-9.

A timeout was called by KM and soon after they got back out on the court, Addy Bzoskie got a big hit, bringing their score near Minneota’s. However, Minneota didn’t let that phase them and they kept playing hard, the score now 14-11. The Minneota Vikings are a tough team and they haven’t let any of their opponents this season score 20 points in a set, and the KoMets wanted to change that, and it looked like they could!

Cummings came through with her fifth kill of the set, which helped the KoMets reach towards Minneota, with a new score of 17-12. Noelle Vanoort of KM went towards the back and found an open spot, now the KoMets were only trailing behind by six points, 20-14. Suess was capable of shooting another one to the floor and the KoMets were hopeful, 20-15, but they weren’t able to keep the adrenaline going in the first set and Minneota won 25-16. 

Changing it up in the second set, Minneota gained the first point, then Avery Irish found a hole in the back corner and tied it 1-1. That seemed to be the only action from KM for a while as they were struggling with Minneota up 9-1. KoMets finally received their second point when the Vikings hit it out of bounds.

Vanoort’s third kill of the night brought the score to 10-5, soon KM was just barely trailing behind Minneota, 11-9. Feeling the pressure, Minneota launched some aggressive play and soon the KoMets were dragging behind 17-9.

KoMets had to take another timeout to boost their motivation and once they returned, they gained major momentum and they were able to get their score to 16 when Minneota was at 22. The KoMets are playing their best against a powerful team, and managed to earn a score of 18 before Minneota took the win for the second set. 

The first point of each set seemed to be going back and forth between the two teams as the KoMets received it for the third set. It doesn’t take long at all for the Vikings to tie it 1-1. Vanoort seizes her fifth kill of the night, tying the set 2-2, but then an Ace from Addy Bzoskie brings them to the lead 3-2.

Despite that though, Minneota ties 3-3 and then from a netting error by KM, they are up 4-3. Soon, KM wasn’t the only team having errors, Minneota gave up a point to KM and are now tied 5-5. Once again, feeling KM’s pressure, they release a burst of energy and gain the lead 10-5. Anna Braun lands an Ace that helps the KoMets to end up next to Minneota at 10-7. Vanoort had a nice block that made the score 10-8 now and then Irish got another kill, 11-9, and Vanoort found another spot for a great kill, 11-10. KM is keeping it a lot closer this third set and they end up tying at 14-14 thanks to Converse with her second Ace of the night.

The KoMets then finally reach the lead 15-14 and Minneota calls a timeout in a panic. Minneota quickly tried taking the lead again when they tied 15-15, and succeeded just as quickly, switching the score 16-15. KoMets didn’t let this wear them down and they tied 16-16 and again at 17-17 until they were back in the lead 18-17. KoMets were awfully close to being the ones to earn 20 points in a set against Minneota.

Cate Wanous received an Ace, bringing their goal even closer at 19, but then Minneota consistently tied it at 19-19 after a net error from KM. Minneota reclaimed their lead at 20-19 but not for long as the KoMets brought it back to a 20-20 tie.  KoMets became the first team this season to score 20 points in a set against Minneota. Another tie at 21-21 and 22-22, the KoMets are pretty good at keeping the crowd off of their seats in excitement of what’s going to happen next.

Well, what did happen next was in the KoMets favor as Suess knocks it down and so does Irish, which brings their score 24-22. The KoMets won the third set 25-22. Now a short break to celebrate before heading into a fourth set.

Beginning of the fourth and final set, Minneota wins the first two points. They then had a one-arm dive play and brought the score 6-2. When Minneota reached 9, leaving the KoMets still at 2, Coach Vanoort called a timeout. With the score not changing for the KoMets after the timeout, 12-2, it became noticeable that the KoMets were getting tired and losing their momentum that was gained from the third set.

Minneota was at a 10-point lead, 16-6, until Suess came in with another kill and Braun with her second ace, bumping the score 16-8. After the Vikings had another net error, the KoMets try to rally.  After a lot of scrambling around with the ball, the score is 19-12, Minneota is up.

Cummings gets fired up again and is able to get KM’s score a little higher, 19-14, but unfortunately it looks like the ambition fizzles from the KoMets team and Minneota wins the fourth set 25-15. So, Minneota won the match 3-1 and they finished with 6 Aces while KM finished with 7. 

 

 

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