In a battle of top five teams in Class A volleyball, the #5 McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars defeated the #4 Dell Rapids Quarriers on Tuesday, September 25th at Dell Rapids High School. The Fighting Cougars won in straight sets by scores 25-23, 25-21, 25-14.
The first set was a back-and-forth game with neither team really gaining much of an advantage. Dell Rapids held a 22-21 lead late, but McCook Central/Montrose rallied to take a 24-22 lead. After Dell Rapids pulled within a point at 24-23, the Fighting Cougars closed out the set for the victory. Dell Rapids looked to be in control to take the second set after gaining an 18-13 advantage. McCook Central/Montrose, however, rallied for a 12-3 run to steal the second set at 25-21. The Fighting Cougars would ride the momentum to a 14-8 lead, but Dell Rapids responded with six straight points to tie the third set at 14-14. But once again, McCook Central/Montrose went on a rally, this time for 11 straight points to win the match.
Maria Jackson led the team with six kills. Mackenzie Grisham and Jayda Knuppe both had three kills each. Jackson and Knuppe both had two service aces. Hannah Fletcher notched 13 more set assists and 11 digs. Brooke Klein ended the night with 26 digs, and Grisham had 22 digs. Jackson had three blocks at the net, while Kyra Graham had two blocks.
Dell Rapids (12-5) will travel to Lennox for a Dak-12 Conference match-up on Thursday, September 27th.