Playing for the first time in two weeks, the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal volleyball team hosted the Deubrook Area Dolphins on Thursday, September 17th in a battle of unbeaten teams. The Dolphins gave the Cardinals their first loss of the season winning the match in four sets by scores of 14-25, 25-13, 25-9, and 25-22.
Deubrook opened the match with four straight points for a 4-0 lead. The Cardinals were able to stop the run at four points, and then went on a run of their own. St Mary scored seven straight points for a 7-4 lead. The Cardinals continued to maintain a two-to-three point lead and led 12-9 before going on a 9-2 run take control of the first set at 21-12. The Cardinals won the first set 25-14.
The second remained close early with St Mary holding a two-to-three point lead. The Cardinals led 10-7, but the Dolphins scored 12 straight points to build a 19-10 lead. They cruised from there for a 25-13 win. The Dolphins continued to have the momentum in the third set. Deubrook started the set on a 14-2 run and took the third set 25-9.
The Dolphins started the fourth set on an 8-3 run for an early lead. St Mary went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 9-9. Deubrook responded with an 8-0 run to lead 17-9. The Cardinals battled back to pull within two points at 20-18 and then again at 21-19, but the Dolphins survived the rally to win the set 25-22 and win the match.
St Mary (4-1) will travel to Howard on Tuesday, September 22nd. That match can be seen on Big Sioux Media.