Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley
The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals and Baltic Bulldogs played a tough, five-set match at St Mary High School on Tuesday, September 28th. Momentum shifted from one side to another, but it was the Bulldogs that won the match by set scores of 25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, and 15-12.
The start of the match was close as the two teams were tied 7-7. Baltic took control of the set from that point going on a 10-2 run for a 17-9 lead. They would cruise to a 25-15 first set win. Baltic continued the run getting out to a 7-3 advantage to start the second set. The Cardinals got within a point at 7-6, but the Bulldogs then went on an 8-0 run for a 15-6 lead. St Mary rallied again and pulled within two points, 20-18, but Baltic finished the set on a 5-1 run for the 25-19 victory.
The two rallies by St Mary in the second set sparked the Cardinals. After a 6-6 tie in the third set, St Mary inched ahead 13-9. The lead grew to 20-12 before the Cardinals won the set 25-21. The Cardinals raced to an 8-1 lead in the fourth set thanks to seven straight points while Jacey Tebay was at the service line. Despite the slow start by Baltic, the Bulldogs rallied to eventually take a 17-16 lead. St Mary responded with a 6-2 run for a 22-19 advantage and finished the fourth set with a 25-22 win to force the fifth set.
Baltic struck first with a quick 4-1 run to start the fifth set. The Cardinals could not get any closer than two points as the Bulldogs maintained a two-to-four point lead throughout the fifth set. Baltic took the fifth set 15-12 to win the match.
Courtney Brown had a team-high 12 kills. Maya Heinitz finished with nine, and Ella Griffin had five for the Cardinals. Tebay had seven ace serves on the night. Brianna Lindeman finished with 14 set assists, Madala Hanson had nine, and Griffin had five. Addy Gilbert had three blocks. Brown also led the team in digs with 16. Heinitz finished with 10, Griffin had 10, and Josie Baumberger and Whitney Warwick both had eight digs each.
Elyssa Clark had 16 kills for the Bulldogs. Emma Van Regenmorter had 13, and Bailey Teveldal and Sami Polzin each had nine. Polzin also had a match-high eight ace serves. Jacie Wendland had 22 set assists, and Teveldal had 19. Cami Artz finished with five blocks, while Van Regenmorter had four. Polzin had 20 digs, Clark finished with 15, and Madison Kennedy had 10.